Senator Monday Okphebholo has officially been sworn-in as the Governor of Edo State.

Naija News reports that Dennis Idahosa was also sworn-in as the Deputy Governor of the State.

The ceremony took place on Tuesday at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, the state capital, two months after the All Progressives Congress (APC) clinched the ticket to the Dennis Osadebay House.

Recall that Okpebholo emergence came after his victory in the September 21, 2024 governorship election in the state, having defeated his closest rival and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Asue Ighodalo.

Okpebholo becomes the fifth governor of the state since the Fourth Republic commenced in 1999.

The ceremony was attended by Vice President Kashim Shettima, Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, immediate-past Deptuy Governor Philip Shaibu, Senator Adams Oshiomole, the Minister of Aviation Festus Keyamo, among others.

Oil marketers in the country have demanded a reduction in the price of petrol coming from Dangote Refinery.

According to the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN), the cost of production is now less than ₦600, so petrol from Dangote Refinery should also reflect the new price.

Speaking on Tuesday during a broadcast by Nigeria Info FM 99.3, the spokesperson for PETROAN, Joseph Obele, explained that the reduction in the cost of production is a result of the crude for Naira concession given to Dangote Refinery by the Federal Government.

He, therefore, insisted that it is wrong for Dangote Refinery to insist its products will be sold at the prevailing international market price when they enjoy so much concessions from the government.

Dr Obele said the refinery should consider reducing its price in line with the new cost of production in order to ease the current hardships in Nigeria.

He said: “Scholars of oil sectors have done an analysis and the analysis has shown that the crude for Naira given to Dangote by the Federal Government, cost of production will not go above N600, less than N600. Although the crude oil he imported from the international community, the cost of production will not be above N700.

“But it is wrong for him to say his template for him to fix his refinery selling price is based on and tied to how much the international community is selling. And people are saying the dynamics and the effects and the economic systems at the international market and Nigeria are not the same.

“Dangote should not have fixed his price on the international market. He should have fixed his price on cost of production plus the margin.

“International market (price) in a country where you enjoy so many concessions. While he was building his refinery, the concession he was given for foreign exchange was far less than the official rate to the extent that international experts criticised the concessions given to him. So in Nigeria, where inflation is high, where the minimum wage is poor, Dangote is fixing our buying rate for PMS which is a commodity that every other commodity revolves around. It is wrong for him to say ‘I templated my price based on the international market.”

Meanwhile, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has disclosed that it has ended its age-long importation of refined petroleum products and is currently purchasing fuel from the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and other local refineries.

NNPC’s Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari, disclosed this new development on Monday at the ongoing conference of the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists in Lagos State.

Kyari disclosed that the NNPC would no longer import fuel, as it now buys it from local refineries.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has alleged that the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) are actively working to weaken Nigeria’s public school system.

This claim was raised as the union voiced its anger over the extended delay in reaching a new agreement with the federal government, which was supposed to be renegotiated in 2009.

Despite several agreements and action plans, ASUU President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, lamented the fact that no deal has been finalized.

During the Heroes Day ceremony for the 2024-2025 academic year in Abuja, Osodeke pointed out other issues of concern, such as the mandatory implementation of the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) and the delay in paying ASUU members’ salaries for over three months.

ASUU also revealed the distribution of doctoral scholarships amounting to ₦500,000 each to chosen members after thorough review of their proposals.

Osodeke praised the members for their perseverance in protecting Nigeria’s public university system and showed support for ASUU members who are struggling at universities in Kogi State, Lagos, Ebonyi, and Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu.

The Heroes Day ceremony is a tribute to past and present members for their efforts in advancing public education.

Osodeke mentioned the late Prof. Festus Iyayi, a former ASUU leader, and others who have made significant contributions to ASUU’s goals.

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) released a data review for the second quarter debt portfolio of the country, which showed that the debt owed by every Nigerian on average stood at N619,501.

According to the data published by the Debt Management Office, Nigeria’s public debt stood at N134.297 trillion as of the second quarter of 2024 (June, 2024).

With the National Bureau of Statistics putting the country’s population at 216.7 million persons, it would mean that debt per capita stands at N619,501 based on the latest debt figure released by the DMO.

The data from DMO stated that, "The total Public debt is N134tn. This is for public debt stock – external and domestic debt of the FGN (Federal Government of Nigeria), states, and FCT (Federal Capital Territory) as of June 30, 2024."

The debt data further shows that domestic debt stands at N71.2trillion, while external debt stands at N63 trillion.

Of the amount owed, States owe N7.1 trillion externally while the federal government owes N55.8 trillion externally.

States owe N4.2 trillion domestically while federal government owes N66.9 trillion.

The new debt figure of the country put at N134 trillion is a N13 trillion increase from the N121 trillion recorded as of March 2024.

The development is amid clamour for less reliance on loans by the Nigerian government.

Popular Nigerian gospel singer, Dare Melody has spoken about how his deceased wife, Adedoyin, was mistreated by his family members.

Recall that Adedoyin died in October at the age of 47.

In a viral video online, Melody said despite the ill-treatment from his family to his wife, he always assured her to be at rest.

The singer praised Adedoyin’s unwavering support during his career setbacks, especially when a music promoter blacklisted him for four years.

The singer said as a token of gratitude for Adedoyin’s loyalty, he built her a house.

He said, “My family frustrated Adedoyin, I will hold her and say, ‘Adedoyin, I am the one you married, and whenever you see me, put your mind at rest.’ She was there for me, whether we had food to eat or not.

“I remember one day when one promoter who took me out and acted like a human being by saying none of my songs should be played on the radio or printed for almost four years. I could not do anything, but my late wife stood by me.

“When people celebrated the New Year, I ate biscuits with her and our one-year-old daughter. I told the Lord, ‘If truly you are the one who called me, let people know you did.’ God told me I would release a record in 2010, which became ‘Goodness and Mercy’.

“That record revived my career, and people started to recognise me. God opened the way for me, and I began building a house. A friend called me and said, ‘This woman stood by you, let’s build a house for her’, and I said, ‘Everything I have is for her’.”

The Government of Equatorial Guinea has filed a lawsuit against the former Director General of the National Financial Investigation Agency, Baltasar Engonga.

Engonga was accused of misconduct following his alleged involvement in a s3x tape scandal.

The government claims that Engonga’s actions are an affront to the nation’s values.

Jerónimo Osa Osa, the Minister of Information, Press, and Culture, made the announcement over the weekend, condemning Engonga’s alleged conduct.

“The actions of the ex-anti-graft agency chief violate the ethical and moral values of noble Equatorial Guinean society,” Osa Osa stated, emphasizing the government’s commitment to upholding high moral standards.

The Minister further disclosed that the Equatorial Guinean Government, through the State Attorney General’s Office, would conduct a thorough investigation to address Engonga’s alleged violations.

Local media, Ahora EG reported, “This decision comes after several videos went viral in which Ebang Engonga is seen having s3xual relations with multiple women, some of whom are married.”

The government reacted on Friday in an official statement, condemning these acts as “violations of the ethical and moral values of noble Equatorial Guinean society.”

The government has consequently announced the initiation of legal proceedings against Ebang Engonga and his accomplices through the Public Prosecutor’s Office, aiming to hold them accountable before the law.

“In light of these serious events, which severely undermine family and social cohesion, and considering the negative impact that this situation has on the good image of our country, tarnishing its reputation, the government, through the Public Prosecutor’s Office, has commenced a thorough investigation to establish responsibilities at the administrative, civil, and criminal levels, given the possibility of a public health impact,” reported the government spokesperson.

The government further stated it would assess various parameters, such as the distinction between personal and private spheres, prior consent (explicit or implicit), violations of privacy, damage to individuals’ honour and prestige, and the rights of those harmed by these events, including the state itself.

Mr Demola Lagbaja, the head of Lagbaja Family of Ilobu Kingdom in Osun State, has revealed that the deceased Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoheed Lagbaja, did not enjoy life outside the military.

The family head spoke on Monday while receiving the St. Charles Grammar School, Osogbo, Old Boys Association, who paid a condolence visit to the Lagbaja family house in Ibadan on Monday.

He said that the family expected that their late son would, after serving his tenure, retire to enjoy the fruit of his labour.

Lagbaja said the family had submitted to the will of God following the incident,  saying that “some tears will never dry.”

He noted that the late Chief of Army Staff had all his active years in the military, having completed his A-level at the Polytechnic.

“That was our wish, which never came. What happened has happened. We have to submit to the will of God, but we are very proud of our son, for he made us proud. All we can wish him is to rest in peace,” Lagbaja said.

The head of the Lagbaja family appreciated the association for the visit, adding that their late son had been well spoken of since his demise.

Speaking earlier, the delegation led by the Chairman, Board of Trustees of the school, Mr Sola Omopo, on behalf of members of the Ibadan branch of the association, presented a condolence letter to the family.

Omopo eulogised the deceased, saying he had done well for the school and was a proud and financial member until he passed on.

“He was building a very standard project of about N550m for the school, which is about 80 per cent completion.

“When we heard the news, it was very shocking for all of us both in Nigeria and the diaspora, hence the decision to pay a condolences visit to the family,” he said.

Recall that the late Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoheed Lagbaja died on November 5 at the age of 56.

(NAN)