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  • Senate seeks forensic audit of $16.3b Egina oil project

    Senate seeks forensic audit of $16.3b Egina oil project

    The Senate yesterday mandated the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation ( NNPC ) to carry out immediate forensic audit for money of the controversial $16.3 billion Egina oil project.

    The upper chamber also asked the NNPC to furnish it with all the documents, including agreements entered into between it and the Total Upstream Nigeria Limited Egina Project.

    The Senate ad-hoc committee on Local Content gave the directive at the continuation of the investigative hearing of the $16.3 billion Egina oil project.

    The project being undertaken by Total Upstream Nigeria Limited, which started in 2013 and is almost 90% completed has not been audited in any form since the commencement of the project estimated to produce 200,000 barrels of oil per day

    Chairman of the committee, Senator Solomon Adeola in his opening remarks, said that the cost of the project was said to have been raised from $6 billion to $16.3 billion.

    Adeola noted that though nobody is on trial, the Senate wanted to ensure that the country was not short changed in the process of the project.

    The Lagos West lawmaker stated that there is need for a value for money audit both for technical and financial audit adding that the investigation will be greatly assisted by the values for money audit of the project as well as reveal adherence to local content law and other applicable laws in the industry.

    The panel chairman said that necessary information that would guide future transactions was also needed by the Senate.

    He insisted that NNPC should, without further delay, initiate value for money audit of the Egina oil projects which must be concluded in record time.

    He noted that until the value for money audit was conducted and successfully concluded, the Senate will not be in a position to support any such project.

    Adeola warned that the auditors must not be part of Total Upstream to ensure that the exercise was credible.

    NNPC Chief Operating Officer (Upstream) Bello Rabiu, in his testimony, told the committee that the contract sum for the Egina oil project remained $16.3 billion and not $6 billion.

    Out of the $16.3 billion, Rabiu said that they have already approved $10 billion for the project.

    On the source of the $16.3 billion, he said that the money belongs to Total Upstream Nigeria Limited.

    Rabiu said, “Total has the money and the technology and they are to produce oil as agreed.”

    The NNPC official noted that even if the money was borrowed, it is seen as Total money.

    According to him, from conception, the agreement was for Total to provide money and technology “how they provide the money is Total business and not the business of NNPC.”

    Rabiu added that any money spent on the project must be approved by the NNPC “and we have so far approved $10 billion for the project.”

    The committee was alarmed that the NNPC was in the dark about the interest rate attached to the money provided by Total.

    It was also worried that a whopping $3 billion was built into the contract sum as miscellaneous expenses.

    On the ownership of the Egina oil block, Rabiu said that it longs to the NNPC since it had never been allocated to anybody.

    Asked if the NNPC has conducted value for money audit since the project started in 2013, Rabiu said no such audit had been carried out.

    The committee wondered why no value for money audit had been carried out on a project of the magnitude of $16.3 billion.

     Nicolas Terraz, Managing Director of Total Upstream Nigeria Limited, (TUPNI) led the company’s delegation to honour your invitation to the investigative hearing on the motion of the Senate on Local Content Elements and Cost variations relating to the Egina oil field.

    Terraz said, “I consider it a topmost priority to appear in person along with the Deputy Managing Director and other related officials of Total Upstream Nigeria Limited, TUPNI, at today’s hearing, not only to demonstrate our respect for the distinguished Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria but also to provide some insights as a form of overview on the subject of the investigation. My team and I are grateful for this opportunity.

    “The Egina project, located on OML 130, is the largest oil and gas development currently on-going in Nigeria. The field is being developed by Total Upstream Nigeria Limited (TUPNI) in partnership with NNPC, CNOOC, SAPETRO and PETROBRAS. Operated by Total Upstream Nigeria Ltd, the project was launched in 2013 and is expected to start producing in the 4th quarter of 2018. It will add 200,000 barrels per day to Nigeria’s oil production, or approximately 10% of the country’s total oil production.

    “Being the first major deepwater development project launched after the enactment of the Nigeria Oil & Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act, the Egina project has the highest level of local content of any such project so far.

    “As operator of the Egina project, Total Upstream Nigeria Ltd fully identifies with the Government aspirations for Nigerian Content and has been working closely with the Nigerian Content Development Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC) to maximize Nigerian Content on the project.

    “In response to the Committee letter of December 15, 2017, TUPNI has provided a detailed submission to the ad-hoc committee on January 8, 2018. To summarize our submission, below are a few local content highlights of the project, all of which were achieved in close collaboration with and under the supervision of the NCDMB.

    “Employment: the project represents a workload of 24 million man-hours worked in Nigeria, or 77% of total project workload, equivalent to a workforce of 3,000 persons on average during 5 years ;

    “ Fabrication : 60,000 tons of equipment is being fabricated in Nigeria for the project ;

    “Infrastructure: several large-scale industrial facilities were developed in Nigeria for the project, including Africa’s first FPSO integration quay, and several existing fabrication yards were upgraded for the project;

    “Capacity development: over 560,000 man-hours of human capacity development training is being performed across Egina contracts.

    “The detailed breakdown of employment, local fabrication and capacity development across the Egina packages is included in the submission made to the Committee on January 8.

    “The Egina project includes pioneering Nigerian Content achievements:

    “The Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading unit (FPSO) of Egina, a 330-meter long vessel designed to process oil and gas from the Egina field, will be berthed at the quayside in Nigeria for integration of locally fabricated modules – a first for Nigeria;

    “ Egina has the highest number of FPSO topside modules (six) to ever be fully fabricated and integrated in Nigeria;

    “The assembly of the Integrated Control and Safety System of the FPSO was fully performed in Nigeria;

    “ Egina includes the fabrication of the largest subsea equipment (manifolds, risers) ever completed in Nigeria.

    “Engineering

    “ Basic Engineering for the Egina Project was performed in Lagos by three Nigerian Companies – NETCO/BATELITWIN, CRESTECH and DOVER – representing 94% of the total man-hours spent.

    “Total’s Egina Project Management team (PMT) and all the main contractors’ PMT offices are based in Nigeria – a first for a Nigerian FPSO project. Locating these teams in Lagos to carry out project management, engineering and procurement activities has resulted in the generation of significant employment opportunities for Nigerians at various skill levels, ranging from top level engineers and managers to office administrative staff.

    “Detailed Engineering for the Egina FPSO Topsides was executed in Nigeria by Samsung with a consortium of Nigerian engineering companies (NETCO, DeltaAfrik and IESL), all based in Lagos, which at the peak employed about 250 Nigerian engineers.

    “To date, around 2.5 million engineering man-hours have been expended in Nigeria out of a total of 3.0 million man-hours (84%).

    “Fabrication

    “The unprecedented record level of Nigerian Content on all the packages of the Egina project has translated into increased work scopes for several fabrication yards at various locations in Nigeria, in some cases calling for significant facility development and capacity expansion investments by the project.

    “Specifically, the following yards were either built or upgraded to support fabrication and integration works of the various components of Egina project:

    “SHI-MCI Yard in Lagos Deep Offshore Logistics Base (LADOL), Lagos: a new fabrication and integration yard, including a new purpose-built 500-meter long integration quay, has been constructed under the FPSO package contract.

    “Aveon Yard, Port Harcourt:  Upgrade of the yard and construction of new facilities was completed for the Subsea Production Systems (SPS).

    “FMC Base, Onne: Upgrade of the facility under the SPS package contract.

    “Saipem Yard in Port Harcourt (SCNL): first Quad-Joint plant in Nigeria enabling to weld 4 pipe joints together in order to gain efficiency and productivity during the offshore installation phase.

    “ Gil Automation Facility, Lagos: Upgrade of facility for the Integrated Control & Safety Systems (ICSS) Panel assembly under the ICSS Package contract.

    “In addition, coating of the 75 kilometres of oil production, water injection and gas line pipes for the Egina project has been fully executed within Nigeria by Pipe Coaters Nigeria Limited (PCNL).

    “I am pleased to inform the ad-hoc committee that the Egina FPSO will be arriving in SHI-MCI yard in Lagos tomorrow, January 24. This is a key milestone for the projet, and will be the first time ever that an FPSO is berthed at quay side in Nigeria for the lifting and integration of locally fabricated modules. I would therefore like to invite this distinguished committee to view this exceptional facility and the magnitude of the works performed in Nigeria.

    “Regarding the project cost, there has been no upward review of the budgeted costs for the Egina Project since the Final Investment Decision was made in 2013, but rather concerted efforts to deliver the project within the budget and even below it.

    “Specifically, as we have earlier stated, the initial budget established in 2013 for the Egina Project was $16,354 million and after extensive cost optimization by TUPNI and the project partners, this figure was revised downwards to $15,751 million in May 2013 and the Final Investment Decision was made on the basis of this reduced budget figure.

    “In this respect, please be assured that it is the highest priority for TUPNI as Operator to control the cost of the project during the execution phase and to deliver the project within budget.

    “Distinguished Senators please permit me to conclude by highlighting the following:

    “With the arrival of the Egina FPSO within the week, the Egina project is very much on course. TUPNI and her partners are committed to the delivery of the project on schedule with first oil expected by December this year. In doing so, we will be adding 200,000 barrels of oil to Nigeria’s oil production.

    “Egina project has recorded many “firsts” in the area of Nigerian content development being the first project of its magnitude since the enactment of the NOGICD Act.

      “There has been no upward review of the budgeted costs of the Egina Project, but rather concerted efforts have been made to deliver the project within and even below the budget. 

    “We urge the distinguished senators to kindly take note that the Egina project was embarked upon at a time of immense uncertainties in the operating, fiscal and regulatory environment. Egina therefore is a symbol of confidence, commitment and faith in Nigeria by TUPNI and her partners.”

    The Total Upstream Nigeria Limited Egina Project with capacity for 200,000 barrels per day, located about 20km from Akpo field lies within the oil mining lease (OML) 130 and covers an area of around 500 square miles.

    Contract for the engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning of a Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO), unit is said to be strategic to the successful delivery of the entire Egina Project.

  • No room for herdsmen/farmers clash in Oyo, Police warn

    No room for herdsmen/farmers clash in Oyo, Police warn

    The Oyo state Police Command yesterday called for peaceful coexistence between the Fulani herdsmen and the farmers, stressing that there is no vacancy for bloodshed in the state.

    The Police Command who read riot act to all who are planning to cause disharmony in the state, appealed to such trouble maker to either leave the state or be prepared to face unpleasant consequences .
    Addressing a security interactive forum  organised by the state Police Command, the state Commissioner of police , Mr. Abiodun Odude said ” we have to organise this meeting so that we can address some issues that are affecting our farmers and the Fulani herdsmen in Nigeria and we have to take this proactive step in this state so that the existing peaceful atmosphere will not be hindered .”

    Odude said “Oyo state is a very peaceful state and we must make sure we do a lot of things in making sure we are having a peaceful society and that is the reason why we are here today.

    “We must make sure that we are doing  series of meetings with both the farmers and the Fulani herdsmen in the state so that we can address alot of things that could have cause  serious crisis within them, once we are meeting with them some serious issues that can affect both parties will be discussed and settled amicably and in a peaceful manner without shedding blood.”

    while speaking at the forum,  the special adviser to the state governor on security matters , who also represent governor Abiola Ajimobi at the event,  Mr. Segun Abolarinwa said “I commend the state police commissioner for organizing this kind of summit and it is because you are very proactive. The peace we are all enjoying in the state is a collective efforts of all the stakeholders in the state as led by the Oyo state police command.

    He further said “We don’t want what is happening in others states in the country to happen here and that is why this meeting is very crucial at this time. You can all see that we don’t have a problem with the NURTW and also the level of robbery and other crime have drastically reduced so, everybody are sleeping with their  eyes closed and we don’t want anybody to import what does not belong to us here and started creating problem for us, that is why I said this meeting is crucial and we must appreciate the organisers of the stake holders meeting.

    “I have the privilege to have lived within the Hausa/Fulani people in Ejigbo when I was so young then and people are living in peace together and it was the Gah fulani that we use to go and buy wara { Milk Cake}  and all sorts and we are all living together in peaceful environment,  so I don’t want anyone to bring or import any problem that is not ours here.

    “we just have to be living together in peace in  Nigeria because we are so many and we have to learn how to tolerate one another , for we have no where to run to,  God forbids if we have crisis. Our neighbours in right hand which is Benin Republic are just about four million ,  so, we with our population as many as we are,  where are we likely to run to if we have crisis within us? So we need to embrace peace within us and shun all forms of violence.

    “We must all allow peace to rein in Nigeria because if we all fail to make sure we have peaceful coexistence in our society our children will have us to blame for it and they will question us , so we must make sure we embrace peace in our society,  he said.

    In his contribution, chief Saliu Kadiri , Seriki Fulani of Ibarapa area of the state said ” its love that is lost in our society and that is what is resulting to all these killings we are witnessing in our society today and we must all start to embrace peace so that we can have a peaceful atmosphere. “

    Also, Elder Taiye Ayorinde,  the Baale of Ekotedo, Ibadan  said ” Nigerian security is not that strong enough and government must make sure we have a very strong and formidable security so that those people parading themselves as fulani herdsmen can be properly checked, we even heard that those fulanis invaders are not Nigerians and if that is true, what is the duty of our immigration officers and our Customs service too needs to brace up their tactics in curtailing those people.”

  • ‘It’s too early to dismiss Cleaner Lagos Initiative as failure’

    ‘It’s too early to dismiss Cleaner Lagos Initiative as failure’

    A civil society group, Greater Lagos Youths ( GLY ), on Tuesday faulted the call for the termination of a contract signed by the Lagos State Government with an environmental utility group, Visionscape Sanitation Solutions, saying it was too early in the day to dismiss the Cleaner Lagos Initiative ( CLI ) as a failure.

    GLY, which is an amalgamation of over 60 youths’ groups drawn from across the 57 Local Government and Local Council Development Areas of Lagos State, said the call was not only misguided but hasty and irresponsible.    

    A group, Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN), had asked the State Government to terminate the contract with Visionscape, alleging unsatisfactory handling of waste in the State.

    But GLY, in a statement by its National President, Kayode Gbadamosi, condemned the position of the group, stating that it was pretending to serve the interest of the larger society, while in reality it was doing the hatchet job for it’s paymasters to service interests which were at variance with the health and sanity of Lagos State.

    According to GLY, “Let it be placed on record that we are not fooled by the call from this group which is akin to the voice of Jacob but the hand of Esau because the breeze has blown and we have seen the rump of the fowl. Also, it is not unlikely that the resurgence of heaps of waste across the State is the handiwork of saboteurs who have now being complemented by the irrational call for its termination.

    “For our information and education, Visionscape Sanitation Solutions is a tested and trusted environmental concern which has proved its mettle in its area of competence in over 13 countries across the globe, so what is this group talking about?”, GLY queried.

    The group said the CLI was introduced to address the challenges in the environmental sector with the focus of aligning the State with top cities in the world having effective and efficient waste management system. 

    “It is a known fact that the former waste management system in Lagos was fraught with a lot of drawbacks that is not in sync with the status of the state as a mega city by the deployment of outdated and faulty compactors which were always breaking down; the short supply of personnel, etc. All these hindered efficient waste management system and constituted environmental hazards across the state.

    “However, with the coming on board of Visionscape Sanitation Solutions, we are beginning to witness a breath of fresh air in the waste management system through the transformation of waste transfer loading stations across the state, beginning with the Tapa Transfer Loading Station while the one in Oshodi is nearing completion. The Ogudu Waste Depot has been completed and the company is currently working on the Epe Landfill, which will be the first Engineered Sanitary Landfill in West Africa, among others,” the group said.

  • Ugwuanyi has wiped away our tears, says University VC

    Ugwuanyi has wiped away our tears, says University VC

    …as governor flags off 10km road construction

    The Vice Chancellor of Godfrey Okoye University, Enugu, Prof. Christian Anieke has described Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State as a Messiah sent by God to wipe away the tears of the University and the people of the host communities through the commencement of the construction of the 10-kilometer Ugwuomu-Nkwubor-Godfrey Okoye University road.

    Speaking during the flag-off ceremony of the road by Gov. Ugwuanyi, Prof. Anieke expressed gratitude to the governor for coming to the rescue of the university and the people of the area through the intervention on the deplorable road. Godfrey Okoye University is owned by the Catholic Diocese of Enugu.

    The Vice Chancellor regretted that all efforts by the university and the people of the communities to get previous governments to construct the road yielded no result “until the Messiah arrived”.

    “Among all the politicians in Enugu, only one person got the heart to do this road and you are the person, Your Excellency. I thank you. You have wiped away the tears of Godfrey Okoye University. You have wiped away the tears of the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Enugu.

    “You have wiped away the tears of Reverend Sisters and Fathers, Ugwuomu and Nkwubor communities; Caritas University, Emene community and all the surrounding communities.

    “This road will be the greatest blessing of your life. Anything you ask God, you will get it”, the Vice Chancellor, who is also a priest prayed.

    He also promised the governor that he will continue to offer prayers for his landslide victory in the forthcoming election.

    Flagging off the road, Gov. Ugwuanyi noted that the action of the government was in response to a formal request from the authorities of the university to assist them improve infrastructural development in the school and its environs.

    The governor added that it was also in keeping with the rural development policy of his administration, stating that the road, when completed, will help to open up the agrarian communities and stimulate rapid economic development of the area in particular and Enugu East local government area in general.

    Gov. Ugwuanyi reiterated his administration’s commitment to “the continuous improvement of the state’s education sector, particularly, through the provision of necessary infrastructure, equipment and logistical support to educational institutions at all levels”.

    He, therefore, pledged continued partnership and cooperation with the university and similar institutions in the state, to ensure the realization of the common visions and objectives in the education sector, “for the benefit of our children and the society at large”

    Earlier in their remarks, the Executive Chairman of Enugu East L.G.A, Hon. Alex Ugwu; the traditional ruler of the Mgbulu Anyuli kingdom, HRH Igwe Mike Ogbuchi; the University’s Board of Trustees’ Chairman, Prof Bartho Okolo and Chairman of Juhel Pharmaceutical Company, Ifeanyi Okoye, commended Gov. Ugwuanyi for his intervention on the road through partnership with the university authorities. 

  • We didn’t arrest, detain Ezekwesili, says Police

    We didn’t arrest, detain Ezekwesili, says Police

    The FCT Police Command has denied arresting and detaining the leader of the Bring Back Our Girls group, Prof. Oby Ezekwesili and some of its members.

    Ezekwesili had alleged on her Twitter handle that she was arrested by Personnel of the the Force at the Unity Fountain while she and other members of the group were planning to embark on a peaceful protest to the Villa.

    Reacting to the allegation on Tuesday, the  Command Spokesman, DSP Anjuguri Manzah explained that some members of the group were only taken to the Command to forestall breakdown of law and order.

    The statement reads : “The FCT Police Command wishes to clear the air and set the record straight that it did not arrest or detain Prof. Oby Ezekwesili and some members of the Bring Back Our Girls group as being speculated on some social media platforms.

    “It is pertinent to state that they were only brought to the Command to ensure there was no breakdown of law and order as some members of the group reacted violently and broke down security barriers set up by the police to restrict their protest to Unity Fountain.

    “The members of the group were addressed by the Commissioner of Police FCT, CP Sadiq  Bello who reiterated the commitment of the Command to protect lives and property and enjoined the Bring Back Our Girls members to go about their lawful businesses. After briefing by the Commissioner of Police, the members of the group left the Command.”

  • Drug abuse: FG sets up 16 member committee on codeine, others

    Drug abuse: FG sets up 16 member committee on codeine, others

    …to consider banning, supply chain of drugs among others

    Piqued with the increased cases of abuse of drugs among the populace, the Federal Government has set up a committee to review the continuous usage of codeine, Tramadol and other related substances in the county.  

    The 16 member Committee on the Codeine Control Working and other related Matter Group ( CCRWG ) which has Prof. Oluwatoyin Odeku as the Chairperson has four to six weeks to turn in its preliminary report. 

    Inaugurating the committee yesterday in Abuja, the Minister of Health Prof. Isaac Adewole said that it was very important to break the supply end of the drugs.

    The minister stressed that the government must prevent people from causing harm to themselves and to the society. 

    In the recent times, Adewole said the government had confisicated and destroy many of these products.

    He however said that the rate at which people have resorted to drugs, has necessitated the need to find out why they are using these drugs.

    “It is not enough to destroy the products or enforce regulations ,we need to find out why they are using these drugs,” he stressed.”

    The terms of reference which the minister said is limitless include:  To look into the distribution system of the drugs; how the drugs get into the market; how can we manage the system; are these drugs so essential that we cannot ban them; are there no alternatives. 

    Also speaking, the Registrar, Pharmasist Council of Nigeria ( PCN ), Elijah Mohammed said that the safety and concerns around the use and misuse of codeine containing preparations are assuming frieghtening dimensionin some part of the country.Mohammed noted that even as the nation strives to create a sanitized drug distribution system through the National Drug Distribution Guideline ( NDDG ), to arrest the issue, it must be aware that a large number of Nigerians are already addicted to some of these medicines adding that PCN is currently working with technical group of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria to address the challenge.

    He observed that with the inauguration of the working group,  the issuing of permit for manufacturing of codine would be  controlled in order to have less consumption

    In her remark, the Chairperson of the committee, Prof Oluwatoyin Odeku said the  misuse of drugs is widespread among youths in the country. 

    Odeku also stressed the need for orientation change among the people and the need for proper education on the effect of drug abuse. 

    She however promised that the committee will do all that is necessary to ensure that the problem is tackled.

  • Life harder under APC – Gov Emmanuel

    Life harder under APC – Gov Emmanuel

    Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom state has lamented the worsening economic condition of Nigerians under the All Progressives Congress ( APC ) government of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Speaking yesterday in Uyo at the New Year Get-together ceremony of the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ), the Governor said  Nigerians fared better under the PDP than the APC government.

    In fact, Emmanuel slammed those blaming the PDP for the country’s current predicament, adding that the high cost of food items, petrol, automobiles and the soaring exchange rate of the Naira to the Dollar are indicators that all is not well with Nigerians under the APC government.

    “Everywhere you go people keep saying the PDP spoiled the country. When PDP governed Nigeria how much was a bag of rice? When PDP was in power how much was Toyota Corrolla? When PDP handed over power how much was a litre of petrol? When PDP handed over government how much was the exchange rate? Was it not between 186 to 188?

    “I am standing here firm and sure that Nigerians now know the difference and they are eagerly waiting for PDP in 2019.

    “Nigerians did not know or value what they had until they lost it ( PDP ). Nigerians now appreciate us much now. We can zero in on that and make a lot of impact. We shouldn’t play the defeatist approach”, Governor Emmanuel said.

    He said that one of the ways to dislodge the APC in 2019 both at the state and federal levels was for party members to obtain the permanent voters card.

    To this end, he directed party stakeholders occupying government positions to sensitize and mobilize party members in their wards to register and obtain their PVCs which which they can remove the APC government.

    The Governor also hinted that political and traditional positions in the state would strictly be determined by the principle of zoning, adding that zoning makes election cheaper and eases tension.

    “My intention is to make election cheap for us through zoning. I am happy that all of us have adhered to the principle of zoning.

    “These days I get calls from communities when they want to select their village heads and they tell me they are adopting zoning. It makes life very easy”, he argued.

  • Bwari crisis: Committee submits report on damages, victims

    Bwari crisis: Committee submits report on damages, victims

    The ad hoc committee, set up to assess and collate data on damages incurred during the recent Bwari crisis, has submitted its report to the Chairman, Bwari Area Council, Mr Musa Dikko.

    Dikko, while receiving the report on Tuesday in Bwari, Abuja, reiterated the council’s commitment to bring succour to the affected traders in the area.

    According to him, the report would be used to attend to the welfare of the victims.

    “This report is not an investigation report on what led to the crisis but a report on the number of persons, shops and owners of the shops affected both in and outside the market.

    Read also: Bwari residents bemoan their condition after communal clash

    “It is to give government an idea on how to go about assisting the victims.

    “I assure you that the recommendation in this report would be put into consideration and implemented immediately.

    Dikko noted that investigations on what led to the Christmas day crisis are still ongoing at the FCT level, adding that the FCT Minister has constituted a panel on the matter.

    He, however, commended the committee for a job well done and for submitting the report on time.

    Earlier, Mrs Evelyn Chukwu, Chairperson of the committee and Secretary of the council, said that the report included the number of persons, who were hospitalised but are out of the hospital and also the number of deaths recorded.

    She added that the report also included the number of traders, whose shops were burnt in and around the market, including shops on the streets.

    Chukwu noted that the data collated was in collaboration with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Nigerian police and the Department of State Security (DSS ).

    Recall that the Bwari, FCT town, was on Christmas day hijacked by suspected cultists, who burnt shops in the market and mounted bonfire and barricades to prevent vehicular movement.

    The council, subsequently, set up an ad hoc committee to assess the number of people affected and damages with a view to bring succour to the victims.

    NAN

  • Gov Ahmed calls for enforcement of ban on importation of poultry products

    Gov Ahmed calls for enforcement of ban on importation of poultry products

    Kwara State Governor, Dr Abdulfatah Ahmed has called for stronger enforcement of current ban on importation of poultry products into the country to protect the health of citizens and boost the nation’s economy.

    Declaring open a seminar organised by the Poultry Association of Nigeria with the themed: “Impact of Smuggled Poultry Products on the Economy and Health of Nigerians” in Ilorin, Governor Ahmed emphasised that Nigeria has the local capacity to fill the supply gap that may be created by this ban on importation of frozen meat.

    The governor who explained that poultry industry is still faced with challenges including but not limited to unfair competition from imported frozen meat, chicken and turkey, said “imported frozen meat is said to account for over $2.5 in foreign exchange and a loss of more than one million jobs opportunities annually”.

    The net impact of this, according to Dr Ahmed, is the gradual emasculation of local businesses, resulting in unemployment and stunting growth.

    Gov Ahmed insisted that smuggling of contraband items drains the national income, retards local businesses and often results in the demise of local industries, and in the long term have devastating effects on the health of consumers.

    Earlier in his remarks, the President, Poultry Association Nigeria, Mr. Ezekiel Ibrahim, who attributed high cases of cancer and kidney diseases, particularly among the wealthy individuals, to the consumption of imported products,  disclosed that an average of 1.3 metric tonnes of poultry products were smuggled into the country on annual basis between 2004 and 2017.

    Mr. Ibrahim called on Kwara State Government to encourage whistleblowing policy among inhabitants of border communities to expose those smuggling poultry products.

    In his paper presentation titled: State of Emergency: Job losses due to smuggling of poultry products in Nigeria, the immediate past National President of the association, Dr Ayoola Oduntan described poultry business as low hanging fruits with potential to creating high paying jobs.

  • Dalung inaugurates 33-man NYCN committee

    Dalung inaugurates 33-man NYCN committee

    The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr Solomon Dalung, has inaugurated a 33-man National Transition Committee of the National Youth Council of Nigeria ( NYCN ).

    Dalung, who inauguratwd the committee in Abuja, said the committee should come up with modalities and action plan that would target the realisation of a successful elective congress within six months.

    Dalung charged the committee to find lasting solutions to the crisis bedevilling the council, urging them to use the opportunity to harvest new executives with wealth of experience.

    “You will agree with me that the NYCN leadership crisis was an ill wind that blows nobody any good. We are all losers and victims of the Council’s power tussle.

    “The Nigerian youths has lost so much as crisis deprived them of quality representation nationally and internationally.”

    Read also: How Sports Minister Dalung spurred Eagles to victory

    The Minister noted that committee members would be culminated in an elective congress which would usher in a new leadership for the Youth Council, adding that the committee was a true reflection of interest groups , zones and was gender sensitive.

    The Minister, however, warned all the members of the council against cresting the NYCN logo on their vehicles,  stressing that anyone found guilty of this would be sanctioned.

    He also directed youths above 35 years should only serve at the National Advisory Council level of the NYCN, stressing that henceforth, the council’s leadership will be within the age range of 33 to 35 years.

    He  called on youths to work hard with the interest of the nation at heart, while advising them to not let themselves be deceived by over ambitious politicians who do not mean well for the country.

    Earlier, the Chairman, Board of Trustees of the NYCN Mr Dickson Akoh, appealed to members seeking elective positions, who have been barred constitutionally from contesting due to the age limit enshrined in the constitution, to comply so as to enable the council move forward.

    He also charged the newly inaugurated committee members to be committed in delivering on the mandate given to them, and hoped to  inaugurate a substantive executive members of the council in the shortest period.

    NAN