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  • Sanusi to Kano: safeguard pipelines

    Sanusi to Kano: safeguard pipelines

    The Emir of Kano, Mallam Muhammadu Sanusi II, has called on the people of Kano to individually assist in safeguarding the nation’s oil and gas facilities by watching out for pipeline vandals within their communities.
     
    Emir Sanusi made this call while receiving the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Dr. Maikanti Kacalla Baru, at his Palace in Kano, on Tuesday.
     
    The Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu, who disclosed this in a statement yesterday, quoted the monarch as saying in Hausa that: “I want to call on all our district heads, community leaders and the entire people of Kano State to consider safeguarding the nation’s oil and gas pipelines as a personal responsibility in their respective communities.”
     
    The Emir, who stated that the Kano Emirate would set the machinery in motion to ensure that all community leaders watch out for pipeline vandals within their domain, also carpeted the economic saboteurs for their unwholesome activities.
     
    “Their actions have caused untold hardship on people’s lives and created a huge negative impact on the environment as well as the economic prosperity of our nation,” the Emir added.
     
    He particularly commended the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Maikanti Kacalla Baru for re-inaugurating the Kano Depot which had led to the restoration of loading operations in the state.
     
    He said as the Centre of Commerce, Kano would soon experience the positive impact of the resuscitation of the Kano depot. “It is my hope that this development will also solve the power issues of our industrial areas in Sharada, Bompai and Challawa,” he noted.
     
    The Emir also commended the GMD for bringing his personal attributes of honesty and integrity to bear on the operations of the Corporation.
     
    “As someone I have known over the years for honesty and integrity, it is no surprise that the Corporation is recording remarkable milestones under his leadership.
     
    “Whoever knows you and knows what should be done to revamp the NNPC will be happy with your appointment. We pray God to continue to guide you in the execution of this huge responsibility”, the Emir stated.
     
    Responding, the GMD said his team was in Kano to re-commission the Kano Depot which has been down since January 2014. 
     
    He also thanked the Emir for his efforts at galvanizing the Kano community to help towards safeguarding the nation’s oil and gas assets.

  • DisCos remittance to TCN hits 35%

    The Market Operator (MO) of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) on Thursday said that the monthly remittance of the 11 electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) has now increased marginally to 35 per cent.

    Speaking at a participant and stakeholders meeting in Abuja, the Executive Director of Mo, Mr Moshood Saleeman vowed to enforce compliance and penalties for defaulters.

    He said: “We now experience a marginal increase of 35 per cent in the remittances of the DisCos but we are not yet there; it is improving gradually.”

    Saleeman said in spite of the three years after privatisation and about two years into the Transition Electricity Market (TEM), the power sector is still experiencing liquidity. He noted penalties will be strictly enforced especially on Market Rule 45 about market payment.

    Continuing, he said: “Henceforth, MO will enforce the rules and penalise defaulters – MR 45. From today, we are going to ensure that all the rules are complied with. They include rules about payment to the market, and other essential rules for the market to grow.”

    The MO noted that Nigeria has 150-kilo watt of electricity per capita and that is below average in other countries, with less than half of the population having access to power.

    The Transmission Service Provider (TSP) Head, Engr. Tom Uwah said its section of TCN is still battling with high frequency that tends to system collapse of nationwide blackout. He said the challenge was because some DisCos may not still be taking power generated by the GenCos.

    The Managing Director of TCN, Mr Usman Gur Mohammed urged the participants to avoid the blame game and work towards promoting the power sector. 

    Represented by the Director, Finance & Accounts, Mr Sunny Iroche, the TCN boss said load unutilisation (rejection) is still a challenge. “Load rejection causes high frequency in transmission when the DisCos reject load and we have to tell the GenCos to reduce generation so we can balance the system,” he said.

    He said TCN has improved its capacity to 6,500 megawatts (mw) and that the highest generation ever recorded was 5,074mw in February 2016 of which TCN was able to wheel. 

    He said TCN has reduced the transmission loss to eight per cent urge other participants to do more. “The power reforms in other climes like Brazil starts with the commercial end, when you are sure the DisCos can accept, distribute energy and meter close to 95 per cent of the customers, you can then address issues of generation and transmission at once,” he said.

  • Businessman in court over alleged cylinder theft

    Businessman in court over alleged cylinder theft

    A 28-year-old businessman, Boniface Emeka, was on Thursday arraigned in a Karmo Grade 1 Area Court, Abuja, for allegedly stealing cooking gas cylinder.

    Emeka, who resides at Daki Biyu Jabi village, Abuja, is facing a two-count charged of criminal trespass and theft.
    The offences contravened the provisions of Sections 348 and 288 of the Penal Code.

    The prosecutor, Mr. Dalhatu Zannah, had told the court that the matter was reported at Life Camp Police Station, Abuja, on May 13, by one Mercy Jatau and Stephen Ohamijie of Emab Global Plaza, Jabi.

    Zannah said that Emeka committed the offences on May, 13, at about 2.30.p.m. at Emab Global Plaza Jabi.

    The prosecutor said that Emeka criminally trespassed into the plaza and stole one 50kg cooking gas cylinder.

    He also told the court that in the process, Emeka was caught by one Omale Hassan, the security guard attached to the plaza.

    Zannah alleged that during police investigation, the stolen cylinder and one 12kg cylinder that was stolen from the plaza sometime ago, were recovered from the defendant.

    The defendant denied committing the offences, while the judge, Mr. Abubakar Sadiq, granted him bail in the sum of N30,000 and a surety in like sum.
    The case was adjourned until June 13 for hearing.

     

  • Man docked over alleged N1m forex trading fraud

    Man docked over alleged N1m forex trading fraud

    A man, Taiwo Sunday, accused of N1million foreign exchange fraud was on Wednesday arraigned in a Gudu Upper Area Court, Abuja.

    He was docked on charges bordering on criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, cheating and criminal intimidation.‎

    The prosecutor‎, Donatus Abbah, had told the court that‎ one Uchenna Anyanwu, reported the matter to the FCT Commissioner of Police, on Feb. 22.

    Abbah said the defendant and one Ogedengbe Monday introduced the plaintiff to a forex trading business, conspired and collected N1,008,000‎ from him.

    Abbah said police investigation revealed that the defendant did not have any existing business and when the plaintiff demanded for his money, he threatened to kill him‎.
    He said the offences contravened Sections 97, 312, 322 and 397 of the Penal Code.

    The accused, however, denied committing the offences.
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    ‎
    ‎The judge, Alhaji Umar Kagarko, granted Sunday bail in the sum of N1.1 million and one surety in like sum and adjourned the case until July 17 for hearing.

  • Kachikwu continues engagement on investment with US

    Kachikwu continues engagement on investment with US

    As part of the just concluded international visit of the  Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu to the United States of America, where he led Nigeria’s delegation to the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in Houston Texas, the Honourable Minister of State held a meeting with a delegation of the United States Departments of State and Energy at the United States Department of State in Washington D.C.

    The meeting had in attendance Ambassador Mary Bruce Warlick, Acting Special Envoy and Coordinator for International Energy Affairs at the Department of State who led the United States discussions during the meeting which was grouped into two sessions the reform session and investment session respectively.

    The ministry’s Director of Press, Mr. Idang Alibi made this known in a statement on Wednesday.

    According to the statement, the Acting Special Envoy and Coordinator for International Energy Affairs stated that Nigeria remains a critical priority for the US in Africa and bilateral relations, which are increasingly rooted in the shared values of both nations are delivering results. She further commended Nigeria on the significant steps taken in the Oil and Gas Industry reforms especially in the area of shared insights gained by the US team from reviewing the National Oil policy, The National Gas policy, The Fiscal policy and the draft of the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill and Petroleum Industry Fiscal Bill developed by the Ministry of Petroleum Resources.

    The Minister of State while responding to the comments and feedback given by the Acting Special Envoy and Coordinator for International Energy said the Federal Government of Nigeria under the leadership of President Buhari has clearly set out the choices that have to be made as nation over the next 4 years and have also taken significant steps in achieving this through the continuous implementation of the 7BigWins – the Nigerian Petroleum roadmap; which focuses on stabilizing the business environment, enshrining openness and transparency, developing and entrenching new policies and regulations.

    He also hinted on the launch of a pet project – “Project 100” which is aimed at maximizing and unleashing talents by identifying 100 Nigerians who have access to finding and are willing to make a change in the industry and collaborating with them to find solutions to the industry’s problems with a view to set Nigeria on the path of glory.

    Kachikwu further reiterated the positive impact that the ongoing engagement in the Niger Delta and the Oil Producing States led by the Acting President; His Excellency Prof. Yemi Osinbajo is yielding results as evidenced by the near zero militant incidences and normalcy in production activity being restored in the region. A comprehensive and holistic developmental framework encompassing all Government Agencies and stakeholders, targeted directly at addressing gaps in the communities is being deployed with the 20-point Agenda that outlines the Roadmap to closure for militancy in the Nigerian Oil and Gas sector.

    He also harped on the need to work together with the US to sustain progress on reforms and match it with increased international investments in Nigeria’s Oil and Gas sector. Other areas of collaboration the Honorable Minister of States urged the US to invest in include capacity building, and acquisition of technology.

    As part of the discussions during the roundtable, Ambassador Warlick informed the Minister of State, that a team of Nigerian Senators would be meeting the US team on Friday May 5, 2017 to discuss progress on legislations relating to the Nigeria Oil and Gas industry. The honourable Minister responded to the visit of the Senators by stating that there has been a very high level of collaboration between the Executive and the Legislature in the passage of bills before the National Assembly and also cooperation in proffering far-reaching solutions that will grow Nigeria’s Oil and Gas sector.

    While discussing issues relating to gas strategy implementation and plans during the roundtable, Ibe Kachikwu said that Nigeria’s gas vision is to be an attractive gas-based industrial nation, giving primary attention to meeting local gas demand requirements, and developing a significant presence in international markets. He explained that the core principles behind the gas industrialisation agenda include separation of activities between the government and private sector, implementing full legal separation of the upstream from the midstream, pursuing a project-based rather than centrally-planned domestic gas development approach and establishing strong linkages with electric power, agriculture and other real sectors.

    He further clarified that for Nigeria to successfully attract investments and achieve an aspiration of zero routine gas flaring by 2020, the Federal Government developed a transparent licensing process for allocating and pricing gas flares, improving access to finance for gas flare monetization projects, providing incentives to investors, and strengthening the capacity of government regulatory agencies to monitor implementation of flare down projects. Another important gas initiative in the country is the provision of LPG for domestic use and CNG as a transportation fuel.

  • Stakeholders to parents: Channel your wards energy towards positive impacts

    Stakeholders in education sector have urged school management and parents to help channel students’ energy toward positive programmes.

    They spoke on Wednesday in Abuja at the 4th edition of the Power Forward Project organised by Exxon Mobile in conjunction with Africare, an NGO.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Power Forward Project is aimed at using the game of basketball to teach and mentor over 10,000 students from 10 secondary schools in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    It is also aimed at teaching secondary school students, life skills training such as leadership, respect and personal responsibility through basketball and other programmes to positively impact on them.

    Mrs Samira Jibir, Executive Director, Glisten International Academy, said that schools should as a matter of urgency, develop and orientate the minds of the students toward productivity.

    She said this would make students to be of value to themselves, their immediate society and the world at large.

    “There are so many distractions for the children which conflict with socio-cultural values of the society.

    “These range from exposure to high technology waves without control, being left at the mercy of adults’ house helps, relatives, cartoons, comprehensive sexuality education and peer group.

    “We neglect our roles as adults to guide, love and protect these children; we have failed these children.

    “We must therefore channel their energy to positive programmes like sports, for example basketball,” she said.

    Jibir commended power forward for engaging the time of the children positively, building their confidence and maximising their potential.

    Also, Mr Michael Kukigan, Business Resources Manager, ExxonMobil, said the project was meant to bring development to Nigerian youths by engaging them in what they loved doing, especially sports.

    Kukigan said the organisation, over the years, had been harnessing the talents and potential of youths, especially secondary school students, to groom them in becoming self-reliant in future.

    “The children have the talent and what we do is to focus on developing these talents.

    “We believe that beyond sports, the students need to have substance, know what it takes to get goal and leadership skills through education.

    “They also need to learn valuable lessons and understanding about public health and get education, to make life better for them and the country,” he said.

    He also said the 2017 edition of the project was targeted at reaching out to 10,000 youths in schools and vulnerable communities with life skill information.

    Mrs Victoria George, Deputy Director, FCT Secondary Education Board, stressed that popularising sports, especially basketball in the Nigerian schools would help the children to be celebrated in their life long skills.

    George noted that children were key players in leadership role in their various schools, adding that about 50 per cent of them that participated in the project were leaders in their various schools.

    She further said the project had tremendous impact on the students because it would help them turn away from social vices thereby building bridges that would foster country’s development.

    The schools represented in this edition are: Model Secondary School, Maitama, Rahinna Model College, Jikwoyi, Raberto Schools, Wuse 2, Divine Mercy Secondary School, Asokoro and Glisten International School, Jahi.

    Others are; Bicardos International School, Kubwa, Government Secondary School, Karu, Wuse, Garki and Airport.

     

  • Woman arraigned over N16m fraud

    The Police on Wednesday arraigned a 35-year-old woman, Patience Akhutor, in a Wuse Zone 2 Senior Magistrates’ Court, Abuja, for allegedly defrauding 100 people of N16million.

    Akhutor, who resides at Gwarimpa, Abuja, is facing a four-count charge of criminal breach of trust, cheating, criminal misappropriation and criminal intimidation.

    The prosecutor, Dabo Yakubu, told the court that onec, of Asokoro and 99 others wrote a petition dated April 7, against the defendant.
    The letter submitted to the FCT Commissioner of Police, alleged that
    sometime in December 2016, the defendant deceived the complainants to invest in her company, Laveragers Resources Network Ltd.

    He said that the complainants invested N16 million in the company.

    The prosecutor said that it was agreed that after four months they will get N120 million in return as profit for their investment.

    He said that when four months elapsed, the defendant failed to return the money with the profit as agreed.

    The prosecutor said that the defendant even threatened to deal with the complainants.

    The prosecutor said that during investigation it was discovered that the defendant diverted the said money to her personal use.

    He said that the offences contravened Sections 312, 322,309 and 397 of the Penal Code.

    The defendant denied committing the offences, while the Magistrate, Mohammed Tahir, granted him bail in the sum of N1.5 million, with one surety in like sum.
    He case was adjourned until June 8, for hearing.

     

  • Refining activities hit 10million barrel in Q1

    Refining activities hit 10million barrel in Q1

    The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), on Tuesday said that following the peace initiative in the Niger Delta, refining activities in Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna increased to 10million barrels of crude in the first quarter this year as against 8million and 24million barrels for the entire years of 2015 and 2016 respectively.

    Its Group Managing Director, Dr. Maikanti Baru, disclosed this in Abuja during an interactive session with a delegation from the United Kingdom Royal College of Defence Studies.  

    Baru, who was represented at the event by the Chief Operating Officer, Gas and Power, Engr. Saidu Mohammed stated that apart from the upbeat in the refineries activities attributable to the peace initiative which has lowered the rate of attacks on oil installations, the corporation has recorded increase in crude oil production to 2million barrels per day in recent times.

    The NNPC Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu who made this known in a statement, quoted him as saying: “As a nation, we have tried all available options, including military, to tackle the security challenge. We have discovered that guns are not as effective as the engagement option. The peace we are enjoying now is as a result of the engagement with stakeholders in the region led by the Acting President. We intend to build on that to achieve a lasting peace.”

    Dr. Maikanti Baru said having been satisfied with the prevailing respite in the Niger Delta which has engendered a conducive environment for oil and gas production operations in the past few months, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) would do all it could to build on the gains of the Federal Government engagement with stakeholders in the region to deepen and sustain the peace.

    Speaking earlier, the team lead of the UK Royal College of Defence Studies delegation, Major General Craig Lawrence, said the group was in NNPC to learn how the corporation was generating wealth and prosperity for the country in the face of daunting challenges.

    He thanked the management of NNPC for sparing the time to explain to the delegation the workings of the corporation.

    Members of the delegation included United Kingdom, France, Pakistan, and Thailand nationals, among others.

  • Climate change responsible for increased barren villages, erratic rainfall

    The Minister of State for Environment, Alhaji Ibrahim Jubril on Tuesday expressed worry over the increasing rate of barren villages and erratic rainfall in the northern part of the country.

    The minister, who attributed this development to climate change impacts, warned that the situation may persist except there are tentative efforts such as awareness creation and collective approach to reduce the scourge.

    He disclosed this during a meeting with a delegation from West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted land Use (WASCAL), led by its Executive Director, Prof. Jimmy Adegoke in Abuja.

    He added that the Lake Chad in Borno State had significantly reduced, causing water shortage compared with its state 50 years ago.

    Jubril acknowledged over 50 million euro expended by the German government to support Nigeria and other West African countries on research projects regarding climate change.

    His Words: “We thank the German government for this initiative and the support we got from the governing council and executive director of WASCAL. Believe it or not, climate change is not something you can wish away.

    I believe our brothers and sisters from Yobe will attest to it that when you come from areas in the north, where the sand dunes are real, there seem to be barren villages and limited water resources, you cannot deny climate change.

    “Again, in Maiduguri, you know the history of the Lake Chad, you know the former size but 50 years later, it is shrinking to one tenth from 22, 000 sq km to 2, 000 sq klm. I believe it is enough to tell you
    about climate change.

    “We are in May, if you notice, in the north central part of this country, the rains are still erratic. Noting can show you the manifestation of climate change more than this. If it were before perhaps 10 years back, the rain would have been stable.”

    WASCAL is sponsoring training programmes in Federal University of Technology, Minna and Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) to increase capacity on climate change issues.

    Earlier, WASCAL executive director emphasised on negative impacts of climate change and need to increase capacity, research, and create sustainable solutions for better livelihood.

    He said there was no single solution to stop climate change but much of collective efforts.

    According to him, WASCAL is managing 10 post graduate schools which include six PhD schools and four Masters schools in the sub-region and they are all addressing climate change issues by sectors.

    Adegoke appealed to the federal government to hasten efforts to fulfil its 200, 000 euros counterpart of the project.

    He said: “Over 3m euros have been spent over five years to develop programmes to support understanding of climate change in the country.

    The country contribution is not a lot. We are so grateful that Nigeria outstanding contribution of 200, 000 euros will be addressed. It’s not much.”

    “Climate change is a global issue that has a particular interest in us in West Africa. Most impacted countries in terms of climate change are right here in West Africa. The Human Development Index (HDI) which shows vulnerable countries in the world has West Africa top the list.

    We have done very little to contribute to climate change and these countries unfortunately, are the least capable of addressing the problem.

    “The resources to address the challenges are limited here. Are we doing enough? No, are other global communities doing enough, No they are not,” he added.

  • FG laments N127b loss to cyber crime

    FG laments N127b loss to cyber crime

    …Partners CSEAN on awareness creation, cyber defence      

    The Federal Government has said the country loses over N127 billion annually to cyber-crimes across the country.

    Minister of Communications, Bar. Adebayo Shittu, disclosed this yesterday during Cyber Secure Conference organised by the Cyber Security Experts Association of Nigeria (CSEAN) in Abuja.

    The Minister acknowledged increasing threats in the nation’s cyberspace stressing that the trend was becoming more sophisticated and frequent.

    He said it was thus important to intensify efforts to secure the country’s cyber space against imminent threats, as the federal government already inaugurated an advisory council on cyber security.

    His words: “Indeed, Nigeria loses over N127 billion annually, which translates to about 0.08 of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The financial implication could be much more, but a larger number of incidents remain undetected or unreported. These grim figures go on to emphasise the fact that cyber criminals never sleep.

    Building a resilient cyber defence is a priority as available statistics puts the cost of cyber-crime globally at $700 billion per year, and it is projected to rise to about $2 trillion by 2019, due to the rapid digitisation of consumer lives and company records. Breaches like these have steadily been on the rise as according to reports, the number of incidents in 2016 grew by 38 per cent as against the number reported in 2015.

    According to him, the country is in dire need of cyber experts that could help secure the cyberspace.

    Earlier, CSEAN President, Remi Afon identified the need for the country to implement the National Cyber Security Strategy and Policy designed by the federal government to secure the country.

    RELATED: North Korea hackers attack banks in Nigeria, 17 other countries

    He cited the recent global cyber-attack named as ‘wannacry ransomware’ which had wreaked havoc in 104 countries and shut down over 200, 000 computers.

    However, he said the government should make it a mandate in partnership with other stakeholders in the sector to create cybersecurity awareness across the country.

    Aside, Afon urged the federal government to allocate budget to build cyber defence system and increase capacities among private and public establishments in order to jointly build a resilient cyber security ecosystem.

    “We don’t need to be reminded of the growing sophistication and pervasiveness of cyber-attacks, whether it was a billion compromised Yahoo accounts or state-sponsored hackers muscling on national elections.

    “Just last week, the world was hit with ‘WannaCry ransomware’ attack one of the largest ever cyber-attacks in recent years… This attack reinforces how dependent we have become on our data-driven networks and serves as a wake-up call for government, businesses and organisations to make cyber security top priority,” he added.

    Presents at the conference were representative of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), KPMG Nigeria, Microsoft, Panda among others.