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Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has arrived in Minna, Niger’s capital, to meet with Ibrahim Babangida, the ex-head of state.
Obasanjo arrived in Minna Sunday evening after felicitating Gabriel Igbinedion, the Esama of Benin Kingdom, in Edo State, over his 90th birthday.
The meeting with Babangida also had Abdulsalami Abubakar, former head of state, and Aliyu Gusau, an ex-national security adviser (NSA), in attendance.
Kehinde Akinyemi, media aide to Obasanjo, confirmed the meeting.
It was not immediately clear what issues were discussed by the former Nigerian leaders, but multiple reports said the meeting was connected with pressing national issues that border on the current economic challenges.
However, Akinyemi said Obasanjo visited the former head of state to also celebrate his birthday.
Babangida turned 83 in August.
Akinyemi said Obasanjo was unable to be present during Babangida’s birthday due to his busy schedule.
“The opportunity came yesterday, hence the visits to both Benin and Minna,” he said.
Akinyemi said Obasanjo noted Babangida’s contributions to Nigeria and celebrated his good health.
President Bola Tinubu has returned to Abuja after a two-week trip to China and the United Kingdom (UK).
Bayo Onanuga, special adviser on information and strategy to the president, disclosed the arrival in a post on his X page.
The president arrived Nigeria just before midnight on Sunday, September 15, and was received at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport by some members of the administration and heads of security agencies.
They include George Akume, secretary to the government of the federation; Femi Gbajabiamila, chief of staff to the president; Nuhu Ribadu, national security adviser; and Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory.
Tinubu left Abuja for China on August 29 but stopped in Dubai before arriving in Beijing on September 1.
During his trip, Tinubu met with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Both leaders signed five memoranda of understanding (MoU).
The MoUs cut across trade, infrastructural investments, media cooperation, and security improvements.
Tinubu said he was committed to replicating Chinese infrastructure in Nigeria.
The president left Beijing for London and met with King Charles III on September 12.
In a statement, Onanuga had said Tinubu and King Charles discussed issues pertaining to climate change.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited says petrol will be sold at N950.22 per litre across all its retail outlets in Lagos.
In a social media post on Monday, the NNPC said the estimated pump price is based on prices set by the Dangote refinery for its petroleum products.
According to the price map shared by the NNPC, residents in the northern part of Nigeria will pay more for the product, with those in Borno expected to pay the highest petrol pump price of N1,019.22.
“The NNPC Ltd also wishes to state that, in line with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), PMS prices are not set by Government, but negotiated directly between parties on an arms length,” the NNPC said.
“The NNPC Ltd can confirm that it is paying Dangote Refinery in USD for September 2024 PMS offtake, as Naira transactions will only commence on October 1st, 2024. The NNPC Ltd assures that if the quoted pricing is disputed, it will be grateful for any discount from the Dangote Refinery, which will be passed on 100% to the general public.
“Attached to this statement are the estimated pump prices of PMS (obtained from the Dangote Refinery) across NNPC Retail Stations in the country, based on September 2024 pricing.”
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PRESS RELEASE
— NNPC Limited (@nnpclimited) September 16, 2024
NNPC Ltd Releases Estimated Pump Prices of PMS from Dangote Refinery, Based on September 2024 Pricing
The NNPC Ltd has released estimated prices of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as Petrol (obtained from the Dangote Refinery) in its retail stations across… pic.twitter.com/0jVEClVgxQ
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited says it stands by its earlier disclosure that Dangote Refinery Petrol is sold to them at N897 per liter.
NNPCL spokesperson, Olufemi Soneye disclosed this exclusively to DAILY POST on Sunday.
This comes after the Dangote Group in a statement by its spokesperson, Anthony Chiejina, on Sunday disagreed with NNPCL over its statement that Dangote Refinery Petrol was to them at N898 per litre.
However, when DAILY POST contacted NNPCL on his reaction to Dangote Refinery’s statement, he said, he stood by his revelation.
“We stand by our earlier stand that Dangote Refinery Petrol is sold to us at N898 per litre.
“We have documents to back this point”, he told DAILY POST.
The confusion comes after Dangote Refinery started loading its petrol on Sunday.
NNPCL had confirmed that 70 trucks belonging to the state-owned firm loaded Dangote Petrol on Sunday.
There’s an indication that the much discussed merger talk among the trio of Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and Rabiu Kwankwaso, which will see the opposition united against the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, might not sail through after all.
The sign emerged recently after Kwankwaso, presidential candidate of the New Nigerian Peoples Party, NNPP, in the last general election, declared he will win the 2027 presidential election.
DAILY POST reported that the NNPP leader made the outburst when he recently inaugurated the party’s secretariat in Katsina State.
He was also in the State for a condolence visit to the Yar’Adua family over the death of their matriarch, Hajiya Dada, the mother of late President Umaru Yar’adua.
The former Kano state Governor, who had been courted as a beautiful bride by both Atiku and Obi, maintained that his party, NNPP, is ready to take over the presidency, states and other positions across the country come 2027.
In addition to his declaration, Kwankwaso claimed that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is already dead, and had gone out of the line.
“I wish to remind you that Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is already dead, because we were in the party, since they have gone out of the line, we decided to check out,” he said.
Prior to Kwankwaso’s outburst, the PDP had announced that key opposition leaders were exploring a merger to challenge the APC in the 2027 elections.
DAILY POST reported that Ibrahim Abdullahi, PDP’s Deputy National Publicity Secretary, made this known while speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme.
Abdullahi confirmed that Atiku, Obi, and Kwankwaso were discussing a potential alliance.
He lamented that the party lost by over one million votes, adding that if Kwankwaso or Obi had remained with the party, “We could have closed that gap and avoided the current political and economic hardships.”
“Sure. Discussion is ongoing. You’ve seen Peter Obi discussing with Atiku. You’ve seen Peter Obi meeting with El-Rufai,” Abdullahi said, adding that his party was working to bring Obi, Kwankwaso, and other leaders that had left back into the PDP.
“One of them will concede for the others, and then we will have a direction. Our concern as a party and to these people that I have mentioned is to salvage Nigerians from these despair and despondency—the two maladies of hunger and poverty and frightening insecurity in the land.
“You could see cluelessness and ineptitude on the part of those managing the country. And to these people (Atiku, Obi, and Kwankwaso), salvaging Nigeria out of it is more important than their individual ambitions,” he added.
DAILY POST recalls that before the 2023 general election, the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku, had, in an interview with the BBC, given a hint of a possible alliance with Obi and Kwankwaso but it never happened.
In addition, there was also a failed talk over an alliance between Peter Obi (LP) and Rabiu Kwankwaso (NNPP), on the other hand.
Speaking in an interview with News Central Television, which aired on Thursday, Obi said he’s not desperate to become Nigeria’s President.
He said he would only agree to work together with others if he sees people who can do the work better.
According to him, he will not join just anybody for the purposes of state capture or for winning elections.
Obi’s words: “Quite frankly, for me, I am not desperate to be Nigeria’s President. I am desperate to see Nigeria work.
“If I see people who can do the work better, I will. I have even heard people who are saying I should not come out in 2027, and I said to them ‘offer yourselves, then we will put everybody on a scale. If they are better, I will vote for them.”
When asked if he will stay with the Labour Party if he’s contesting in the next election, Obi said: “Yes, I will be here, and if any person is coming for us to negotiate or come together, he must tell me for what purpose.
“I will not join anybody for state capture or for winning an election. I want anybody to tell me how we are going to make sure that no child is left behind; how we are going to put those millions of out-of-school children back in school; and how we are going to create jobs.
“We must first of all establish what we are going to achieve by coming together.
Collaboration shouldn’t be for just state capture and continue with the same consumption. If it’s a collaboration for production, we will.”
On whether he will say yes to Kwankwaso joining him as collaborators, the former Anambra state Governor answered: “We want to dismantle the two biggest jobs in Nigeria. Anybody who wants to move the country from consumption to production; anybody who wants to pull people out of poverty, who wants to bring out-of-school children into school, we will say yes, yes.”
Meanwhile, a chieftain of the PDP, Barr. Ray Nnaji told DAILY POST in an interview that it’s a good idea if they (Atiku, Obi, Kwankwaso) could actually agree, especially Obi and Atiku, who he said had run on one ticket in a past election.
However, Nnaji, a former National Auditor of the PDP, said he’s not foreseeing the possibility of the leader of the NNPP, Kwankwaso, who he described as President Tinubu’s friend, agreeing to work with Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi.
The PDP chieftain explained that an alliance among the trio could only be possible on the basis that Kwankwaso would be given the opportunity to be the presidential candidate.
Nnaji said: “This alliance has been something actually advocated for even when they were contesting the 2023 election. I was saying that most especially, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and the Labour Party, LP, will actually beat the All Progressives Congress, APC.
“That of the New Nigerian Peoples Party, NNPP, the possibility of coming into alliance… because Rabiu Kwankwaso believed he can actually win the election, even when he’s controlling only Kano.
“Though Kano has a very big and relative population, that alone cannot give him the presidency. And knowing fully well that Kwankwaso and President Tinubu they are all friends, I am not foreseeing the possibility of Kwankwaso coming together with Atiku Abubakar to form an alliance, except on the basis that Kwankwaso will be given the opportunity to be the presidential candidate, which I don’t know the possibility of that happening.
“Atiku and Obi have run together before and they defeated the APC. If not that Buhari saw it coming, that was why he removed Walter Onnoghen, former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, from office through an exparte order because he knew quite alright that the matter will end up in the Supreme Court, and with Onnoghen at Supreme Court, he was not sure of winning the case.
“That’s why he made every effort and removed Onnoghen and brought in his brother, Tanko, who actually made sure that the intention of bringing him did not fail.”
He continued: “If they are talking about merging now, like I just said, I am not foreseeing Kwankwaso coming into alliance with Atiku and Obi, except the offer of being the President is given to Kwankwaso.
“I’m not his spokesman and I haven’t talked with him, but his body language has shown that. And you know quite well, if Obi will agree to run with Atiku or have an alliance, the problem will be who actually becomes the candidate, and on which platform.
“If Obi accepts, you know he was formerly of the PDP but left because of Wike. Obi has been able to surprise all bookmakers. Even myself, I never gave him the chance he’s going to make it.
“So, if they can come together, what we have seen now is that the populace are even tired of the ruling party, because instead of things getting better, it’s getting worse.
“The ruling party (APC) is not even prepared to proffer solutions to the problem. It’s a very big problem and right thinking people should know what to do.
“If you compare what’s happening now to what actually caused the PDP to lose the election, you will find out that the APC has not justified why it’s an alternative to the PDP since 2015.
“It’s a good idea if they can actually agree, especially between Obi and Atiku who had run on one ticket before.
“But this time around, if an alliance is going to take place, it’s no longer going to be a situation where Atiku will be the one endorsing Obi. It will now be three equal parties because if you look at the scores, you will find out that Obi did the best.
“He’s not a push over. Therefore, it will be an arrangement of two equals, although the Labour Party has only one state, PDP has about 13 states. That will be the only thing to make sure that the APC is dislodged. If not, it will be very difficult, knowing the mentality of our people.”
Speaking also about the matter, Dr Yunusa Tanko, ex-spokesman and media director of the defunct Labour Party Presidential Campaign Organisation, said the issue about the talk of merger and alliance was a continuous discussion.
Tanko, the Interim National Coordinator of Obidient Movement, made this known in an interview with DAILY POST.
He explained that no definite position on that matter had been taken even though people were still talking to each other.
“The issue about the talk of merger and alliance is a continuous discussion. There’s no definite position on that matter but people are talking to each other.
“It’s very imperative that people understand the need for combined efforts of people who will be aligning on the same matter of good governance and ensuring that they take over power from these people. So people are talking to each other while they are consolidating their base.
“There’s no issue of doubting anybody’s sincerity. The truth about this is that either you’re in it or you’re not. If you feel there’s a need for collaboration, nobody will need to force you into it,” Tanko said.
On his part, the Kano State Chairman of the NNPP, Hashimu Dungurawa, informed DAILY POST that it’s only the situation in the nearest future that will warrant what will happen.
Dungurawa stated that his leader, Kwankwaso is a very friendly person and is not in a quarrel with anybody.
According to him, Kwankwaso wants things to be done rightly in Nigeria, insisting he wants true leaders that will manage the affairs of the country.
He said: “You see in politics, things don’t just happen like that. It’s only the situation in context that will warrant what will happen, whether Mr A is going to work with Mr B or Mr C.
“It’s only time that will determine that. You can’t preempt what has not happened or arrived.
It’s only when the time comes that people can only say what will happen. This is just a rumor.
“Our leader, Rabiu Kwankwaso is a very friendly person. He’s not in a quarrel with anybody.
“He wants things to be done rightly in Nigeria and he wants true leaders that will manage the affairs of this country. That’s what he’s fighting for.
“He is the only person that’s not decamping to the ruling-government party. But many politicians in the country, they used to dump the opposition party and join the ruling party because they are after themselves.
“But when they formed APC, when they formed PDP, he was a governor there. They misbehaved, he moved to the APC that wasn’t in the government.
“When they formed the government of APC, APC started misbehaving, he went back again to the PDP. And the same PDP repeated its mistake, that’s why he joined the NNPP.
“By the grace of Allah, he produced a governor and many members of the National Assembly, including senators.
“That’s why he is different from others, that are more of prostitute politicians. Many of them are crossing from the opposition to the government party. And Kwankwaso’s own is not like that.
“You see, what’s happening in the country is well familiar and known to everybody. That party called APC has a logo of broom.
“The broom has now turned to a stick, and it’s hitting everyone. Everybody is receiving its consequences.
“The PDP that you mentioned has an umbrella as logo, it has now turned to a mad tiger that is biting everybody.
“It doesn’t even have leadership today. So, people are ready to come and work with NNPP.
“We are the one to make this country great and everyone happy, if we are given the chance in 2027.”
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, and Dangote Refinery yesterday disagreed over the pricing of the petrol to be supplied by the refinery.
The disagreement came against the backdrop of the first lifting of the product from the refinery by NNPCL yesterday.
Although NNPCL got the first supply at N898 per litre, Dangote said the price was not reflective of any agreement on the pricing of its product.
Dangote argued that it sold the initial supplies for N898 per litre because the crude was imported for refining, hence it was selling at dollar equivalence.
In a statement by Anthony Chiejina, Group Chief Branding and Communications Officer, Dangote described the claims by NNPCL that it got the product for N898 per litre as “misleading and mischievous”.
Mr. Olufemi Soneye, Chief Corporate Communications Officer, NNPC Limited, was earlier reported to have said it bought the product at N898 per litre, in contradiction to reports that it was sold to it N766 per litre.“Clarifying this, Dangote said: “Our attention has been drawn to a statement attributed to NNPCL spokesperson, Mr. Olufemi Soneye, that we sell our PMS at N898 per f to the NNPCL.““This statement is both misleading and mischievous, deliberately aimed at undermining“the milestone achievement recorded today, September 15, 2024, towards addressing“energy insufficiency and insecurity, which has bedeviled the economy in the past 50 years.
““We urge Nigerians to disregard this malicious statement and await a formal announcement on the pricing, by the Technical Sub-Committee on Naira-based crude“sales to local refineries, appointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu which will commence on October 1, 2024, bearing in mind that our current stock of crude was procured in dollars.““It should also be noted that we sold the products to NNPCL in dollars with a lot of savings against what they are currently importing. With this action, there will be petrol in every“local government area of the country regardless of their remote nature.““We assure Nigerians of availability of quality petroleum product and putting an end to the“endemic fuel scarcity in the country.”
Meanwhile, there were indications yesterday that Nigeria’s fuel shortage may linger due to a 38.8per cent shortfall in the first delivery of premium motor spirit, PMS, from Dangote Refinery to the NNPCL.
This is because the 650,000 barrels per day, bpd, refinery was scheduled to deliver 25 million litres of petrol to NNPCL but could only deliver 16.8 million litres for now.
Recalled that the Nigeria’s Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) had said that Nigeria’s domestic petrol consumption has dropped by 33.58 per cent to 44.3 million litres per day, from 66.7 million litres per day.
This indicates that the 16.8 million litres would be grossly inadequate for domestic consumption.
In a letter communicating the shortfall to the NNPCL, Dangote refinery, stated: “This is to formally notify you of the release of Twelve Thousand, Two hundred Metric Tons (12,200 MT) of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) from Tank No.3201D at Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals, Lekki Free Trade Zone, Ibeju Lekki to Messrs. NNPC Trading Limited to be loaded via road trucks.”
To facilitate distribution, the NNPCL has mobilized over 300 trucks to transport the fuel from the refinery and also berthed a vessel for same.
It was gathered that the NNPCL had issued a Letter of Credit (LC Ref SBLCxxxxT0083) for over $120 million to cover the initial supply of 25 million litres before being informed by the Dangote refinery that it won’t be able to deliver as planned.
Vanguard has learned that the price of PMS from the Dangote Refinery for this initial loading is at N898 per liter.
The fuel lifting is part of a “naira for crude” arrangement, whereby crude oil is sold to local refineries and petroleum products are purchased in naira.
We are lifting 16.8 million litres at N898 per litre – NNPCL
Confirming the development, yesterday, the Chief Corporate Communications Officer, NNPCL, Olufemi Soneye, said: “We successfully loaded PMS today (yesterday) at the Dangote Refinery. The report stating that we purchased it at N1, 300 per litre is false.
“For this initial loading, the price was N898 per litre. I can also confirm, in response to your inquiry, that we will receive 16.8 million litres. As of now, 4.09PM (Sunday) we have loaded over 70 trucks.”
Similarly, the Executive Vice President (Downstream) of the NNPCL, Dapo Segun, pledged the commitment of the NNPCL to the deal, saying: “As a shareholder in the Dangote refinery with 7.25 per cent interest, we are committed to the lifting of product.
“We are running a business. Dangote is running a business. I can tell you there’s nothing unfair going on. Everything that’s going on is according to the terms and conditions signed by both parties, and that is the way business should be done.”
NNPC portal closure denies us access to Dangote petrol — Oil marketers
Meanwhile, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, has lamented that the continued closure of NNPCL’s Retail portal meant they would not be able to get access to petrol supplied by the Dangote Refinery through NNPC Limited.
An agreement between the Federal Government and the Dangote Refinery last Friday made NNPCL the sole off-taker of Dangote petrol, with other marketers expected to get their allocations from NNPC.
This, according to government sources, is to ensure that Nigerians do not pay much higher price for PMS.
But speaking to Vanguard yesterday, the Public Relations Officer of IPMAN, Chief Chinedu Ukadike, said: “We are happy that Dangote’s supply has commenced and we have another source of petroleum product supply. We are also not against the policy of selling the product to NNPC.
“But the independent marketers are saying we also want the refinery to deal directly with us.
We have the highest number of filling stations and will be the best partners for the refinery. We are waiting to hear from NNPC. We are still waiting for their portal to open, so we can make purchases.”
On his part, the Chairman, Lagos Chapter of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association, PETROAN, Joseph Ehimen, said: “We are all waiting for Dangote refinery petrol. We need to see the product at the market place. We need to know the price. We do not want the price to be fixed by anyone. Let the market forces determine the price.
“It should be noted that other investors would be encouraged to do businesses in the sector when prices are not pegged. We need more investors to step up investments in the sector in order to stimulate lasting growth. No single public or private single investor can do it alone.”
We look forward to lifting if price is right — Depot owners
Also, Executive Secretary, Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria, DAPPMAN, Olufemi Adewole, said: “We have been lifting diesel (AGO) and aviation fuel (Jet fuel) and we look forward to lifting petrol (PMS).
“We await clarity in respect of the pricing mode and once that is clarified, we’ll do the needful towards meeting the energy needs of Nigerians.”
Dangote refinery to meet domestic demand, export — Edwin
In an interview with the media, yesterday, the Vice President, Dangote Industries Limited, Devakumar Edwin, said: “Fifty two years ago, we were trying to see how to solve the problem of PMS supply and the queues. Now, after 52 years, we have a solution.
‘’The solution is local production and it is from a Nigerian owned company. It was constructed by a Nigerian company.
“So, it is a matter of great pride that a Nigerian-owned company, constructed by a Nigerian owned company, is able to refine PMS from the local crude and deliver not only to meet the entire requirements of Nigeria but we can also have surplus to export.
“It is time and a moment of great pride for every Nigerian. Every day with 650,000 barrels of crude, we can generate more than 54 million litres of PMS. The refinery has a capacity to produce various other products too.
‘’Also, 44% of the production can meet the entire requirements of the country, while 56% of the production has to be exported.
“It is not only going to be impacting in terms of import substitution alone, but also going to generate forex through export. At a go, we can load 86 trucks. We dedicate 40 gantries to PMS alone.”
Dangote refinery petrol supply to NNPC’ll eliminate queues – Otedola
Reacting to the lifting of petrol from the refinery yesterday, billionaire businessman, Femi Otedola, the owner of Zenon Petroleum, said the lifting of fuel from the refinery by NNPCL will eliminate queues at retail stations.
Otedola in a post on X, said: “Kudos to President Tinubu for making this a reality! Fuel queues are now a thing of the past as Dangote Refinery starts loading PMS today (yesterday), Sunday, September 15, 2024.”
LASG begins implementation of E-call up on Lekki – Epe port corridor
Meanwhile, in a bid to avert severe congestion by articulated trucks and improve the efficient logistics operations within the Lekki-Epe Free Trade Zone corridor, Lagos State government has announced the commencement of the e-call up system to manage truck movements within the axis from next week.
The commencement date, according to a statement signed by Mrs Bolanle Ogunlolu, Deputy Director, Public Affairs at the Lagos State Ministry of Transport, was earlier extended on stakeholders request to give adequate room for full compliance.
The Commissioner for Transport, Seun Osiyemi, disclosed that the e-call up system was ready for implementation for a sustainable, effective and technology-driven solution of truck movement in the Lekki-Epe corridor.
Osiyemi explained that the application of e-call up system would help synchronize movement of trucks accessing the Lekki Deep Seaport and other industries within the corridor, starting from Eleko junction to Lekki Free Trade Zone.
Highlighting the state and federal government’s plans on road network expansion and inter-modal transport systems to streamline vehicular traffic and enhance free movement in one of Lagos’ most critical economic zones, the commissioner opined that the e-call system would control the corridor.
Osiyemi said: “The e-call up system, an advanced digital platform, is designed to regulate the entry and exit of trucks in the Lekki-Epe area by scheduling and coordinating their movements.
‘’This system will help prevent the chaotic traffic situations often caused by the indiscriminate parking and movement of trucks within the corridor.
“The Lekki-Epe corridor, a key economic hub in Lagos, is home to numerous industries, including the Lekki Free Trade Zone, the Dangote Refinery, and the Lekki Deep Sea Port.
‘’The efficient movement of goods and services in this area is crucial for the state’s economy, making the e-call up system an essential tool for sustainable development.”
Also speaking on the development, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Sola Giwa, who is saddled with the enforcement of the e-call up system, said an interim arrangement was being put in place to decongest the roads through evacuation of all illegal tankers from the red zone by a joint TASKFORCE of the state, local government areas/local community development areas, LCDAs, security agencies and stakeholders.
Giwa urged truck operators and logistics companies to comply with the new system to ensure its success.
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has charged Nigerians to reaffirm their trust in President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Ganduje made this call in a statement he released in Abuja to celebrate Muslims on the occasion of this year’s Maulud, on Sunday.
While asking the faithful to reflect on the Prophet’s exemplary life and strive to emulate his noble qualities, he admitted that the country needs the collective prayer and support of its citizenry.
He said, “In the spirit of this season, I urge all Nigerians to reaffirm their trust and backing for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as he spearheads a comprehensive economic revitalisation agenda, underpinned by an unyielding passion for transformative change, aimed at elevating the standard of living for all Nigerians.
“All party members should use this occasion to reflect on their faith and renew their commitment to the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Let us work together to build a society that is just, equitable, and peaceful.
“This auspicious occasion is a significant milestone in the Islamic calendar, and it serves as a reminder of the Prophet’s teachings of peace, love, and compassion. As we celebrate his birthday, we must reflect on his exemplary life and strive to emulate his noble qualities.
“The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was a shining example of leadership, wisdom, and kindness. His message of Islam is a beacon of hope and guidance for humanity. As we commemorate his birthday, we must recommit ourselves to the principles of justice, equality, and fairness that he espoused.”
Ahead of the 2027 general elections, leaders from the Ogoni and Oyigbo zones in Rivers State are seeking a replacement for incumbent Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
They converged on Nonwa in the Tai Local Government Area of Rivers State on Saturday at an event tagged “Ogoni, Oyigbo People’s Assembly.”
The gathering was attended by prominent politicians, most of whom are loyalists of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Wike, the immediate past governor of Rivers State, is currently in a running battle with Fubara, his estranged political godson, and has vowed not to support Fubara again.
Among the attendees were personalities such as Senator Barinada Mpigi, Senator Magnus Abe, Ambassador Desmond Akawor, and Chief Victor Giadom.
The Assembly emphasized unity and cooperation between the two ethnic nationalities, which fall under the same senatorial district (Rivers South-East) that produced Fubara as governor.
As part of their resolution, read by Senator Mpigi, they demanded the Ogoni/Oyigbo governorship slot in 2027 and called for unity and cooperation between the Ogoni and Oyigbo people.
They also called on major political parties to consider Ogoni/Oyigbo candidates for the governorship, while condemning the activities of Governor Fubara.
Senator Mpigi alleged that some political actors were visiting Aso Villa at night to declare their support for President Bola Tinubu and urged them to do so openly during the day.
He called on President Tinubu to contest the 2027 general election to consolidate his efforts in improving the economy and complete his developmental projects.
The resolution reads: “The Ogoni and Oyigbo Peoples Assembly, a multi-political convergence of five Local Government Areas within the Rivers South-East Senatorial District, met today to reaffirm their support for the President Bola Tinubu-led administration and pledged total loyalty to the former Governor of Rivers State and current Minister of FCT, Chief Nyesom Wike, as the political leader of Rivers State. They also reiterated the obvious fact that the senatorial district’s upland is due for a governor and should produce the next governor of Rivers State come 2027.”
Mpigi further stated: “I call on Mr. President to contest the 2027 election and finish the numerous projects, including the Coastal Roads, Badagry Express Road, and others.”
The leaders commended the FCT Minister for uniting Ogoni and Oyigbo politically and condemned recent comments by the Ijaw leader and elder statesman Edwin Clark against Wike.
Speaking earlier, Ambassador Akawor, who was the chairman of the occasion, said that since the Ijaw people within the senatorial district had segregated themselves from the upland, the upland would make a statement that would change the political history of the state come 2027.
Chief Victor Giadom, South-South Deputy National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, thanked President Tinubu for his people-oriented reforms and urged major parties to consider Ogoni/Oyigbo for the governorship slot in 2027.
On his part, Senator Abe emphasized the importance of peace and unity, while Dumnamene Dekor, the member representing Khana/Gokana Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, stressed Ogoni/Oyigbo’s capacity to produce the next governor.
Former federal lawmaker Emmanuel Deeyah also praised President Tinubu and Wike for their love for the Ogoni people and their developmental strides in the country.
Telecommunications operators are expected to start disconnecting mobile telephone lines that are not linked to National Identification Numbers, following the expiration of the September 14 deadline set by the Nigerian Communications Commission.
The NCC said in a statement in August that it expected that no SIM card would remain active without a verified NIN from September 15.
The telecom regulator had encouraged subscribers who were yet to complete their NIN-SIM linkage or have faced issues due to verification mismatches to visit their service providers promptly to update their details before the deadline.
As of March 2024, data from the NCC showed 219 million active lines across mobile networks such as MTN, Glo, Airtel, and 9mobile, with 153 million already linked to NIN. This leaves approximately 66 million unlinked lines at risk of disconnection.
Between July 28 and 29, millions of lines were temporarily barred due to unverified NINs, causing widespread disruptions in the country. The NCC had reversed its decision, giving subscribers more time to comply. However, with the deadline now expired, disconnections will commence.
Speaking to The PUNCH, an NCC official, who requested anonymity as he was not authorised to comment on the matter, dismissed any possibility of an extension.
“We will disconnect anyone who refuses to comply; the grace period is over. The reason why we extended the last time was the misconception of Nigerians who claimed that the NCC wanted to frustrate the August 1 protest.”
The official clarified that the commission has no intention of deliberately disconnecting subscribers. “A significant number of Nigerians have opted not to link their SIMs to their NIN for various reasons.
“While there may be challenges at the Centres, it remains crucial to revisit and complete the process. Let me be clear—there will be no further extensions,” the official emphasised.
A few weeks ago, subscribers expressed frustration over the challenges they face in uploading their details on the National Identity Management Commission portal.
The President of the National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers, Adeolu Ogungbanjo, described the situation as “terrible” after visiting some telecom centres, including MTN and Airtel.
He told our correspondent earlier that the existing portal challenges are obstructing the timely completion of the NIN-SIM linkage, adding, “Without immediate action, subscribers will struggle to meet the deadline.”
He pleaded that the NCC should consider extending the deadline due to the technical issues that marred the process of registration last week.
“NCC must be commended after a series of extensions but I believe they can still do that for maybe one week,” he told Sunday PUNCH.
In March, the NIMC and NCC strengthened their partnership to streamline the NIN-SIM linkage process. Both agencies launched public awareness campaigns, stakeholder training, and the dissemination of accurate information to help citizens comply with the directives.
According to financial results from the first half of 2024, MTN Nigeria and Airtel Africa barred a combined 13.5 million lines for non-compliance with the NIN-SIM linkage directive.
MTN reported it had blocked 8.6 million lines, while Airtel stated that 8.7 million of its customers had completed verification.
The compulsory linkage of NIN with SIM cards began in December 2020, when the government ordered telcos to bar unregistered SIMs and those without NIN links.
Following multiple deadline extensions by the NCC since December 2023, April 15, 2024, was set as the final deadline for fully barring subscribers with four or fewer SIMs having unverified NIN details.
![[PRESS RELEASE] The Facts Regarding Prof Nnaji’s Land at Onuogba Nike Community](/media/k2/items/cache/19970de0e8793b4836c93094ee529be2_S.jpg)
1. Several squatters occupying a piece of land in Onuogba Nike in Enugu East Local
Government Area belonging to Professor Bart Nnaji, NNOM, CON, FAS, have, as part
of their spirited campaign against the owner of the land, addressed the media in Enugu on Thursday, 12 September 2024, on what they sensationally described as land grabbing in the area. A section of the media published their claims, but the majority of those who covered it declined to publish any aspect of the conference because they recognized the entire exercise is baseless, false, misleading, and immoral. They know that the squatters
are, indeed, the land grabbers.
2. None of the few media that published the funny claims of this handful of land grabbers bothered to speak to Professor Nnaji, thereby violating a basic principle of journalism and natural justice: always hear both parties in a dispute before reporting it. They did not bother to contact the Catholic Bishop of the Enugu Diocese, The Most Reverend Dr. Callistus Onaga, DD, who was mentioned multiple times at the press conference. If they had attempted to speak to His Lordship who intervened in the matter purely on humanitarian grounds, the reporters would have obtained the true and correct picture.
3. The landowner is Professor Nnaji, not the squatters. When Prof Nnaji came back from the USA to establish an auto part manufacturing industry and independent power
project in Enugu State in conjunction with his South Korean partners, he purchased the land in 2005 from Chief Hyacinth Alinta, the owner who had the Certificate of Occupancy. The late Chief Hyacinth Alinta, a respected businessman and proud son of Enugu State bought the land much earlier from the original owners in Onuogba
community.
4. When Prof Nnaji wanted to clear the land and start the project after the purchase, some people who recently migrated from Ezza Nkomoro in Ebonyi State to the Onuogba Nike Community and were squatting on the land became violent so he suspended the action until the court case he had inherited from Chief Alinta over the squatters’ presence on the land and ownership of the land was resolved in favour of the Alinta family.
5. After the court judgement Prof Nnaji again attempted to restart his project in 2013.
However, due to the intervention of the Catholic Bishop of the Enugu Diocese, The
Most Reverend Dr. Callistus Onaga, DD, Prof Nnaji paused his plan to restart the project on his land on humanitarian grounds and allowed the squatters to indicate through the Church or their leaders, their interest to either purchase the land and remain on it or vacate the land peacefully. None took advantage of this kind gesture for over eleven (11) years.
6. Over the years, the squatters resorted to threatening the landowner’s workers. This
culminated in the 2023 murder of a member of their community, Mr. SundayOzoemena, who won the contract to construct the perimeter fence around the area. Mr Ozoemena had been advising his kinsmen against their obduracy and embrace of extreme violence against the owner of the land. Mr Ozoemene’s murder is still being investigated by the police.
7. These developments have not deterred Prof Nnaji or Bishop Onaga from displaying
patience and compassion for the squatters especially when some of them disclosed to
their Parish Priest that they had been misled and defrauded by some of their members who had "sold" the land to them.
8. Again, with Bishop Onaga’s intervention the squatters were given up to August 10,
2024, to register their acceptance of Prof Nnaji’s offer to pay for the land. Out of sheer
magnanimity, Prof Nnaji even informed Bishop that he would provide a grant of up to
N1m to any of the squatters who have to move out of the land. Determined to make the process easier and simpler, the squatters were also asked to register with their Parish Priest in Onuogba who had also contacted Prof Nnaji on their behalf. Interestingly, no one took this offer until the eviction exercise started two (2) days ago. Rather, they insisted, without any shred of evidence, that the land is theirs and the youths were threatening everyone with extreme violence in the guise of being ESN members.
9. The fact remains that the squatters have NEVER had any documents to support their ownership claim. The judiciary ruled on the land ownership in January 2013 and the squatters lost, as expected. The squatters’ claim that the land is their ancestral home is false because they migrated recently from Ezza Nkomoro in Ebonyi State to the Onuogba Nike Community.
10. There must be a limit to impunity and blackmail. The squatters have taken undue
advantage of Professor Nnaji’s magnanimity and concern for the welfare of others.
However, their continued stay on his property with impunity has delayed his project
and the development of the land. After over 11 years of waiting for the squatters to do
the right thing, Professor Nnaji has finally given up on them and has taken all necessary legal and moral steps to take possession of his property and develop the project.
11. We understand from key members of the group in Onuogba that the campaign of
calumny against Prof Nnaji is being sponsored by some of their people who had been
fraudulently selling Prof. Nnaji’s land to them illegally. The Catholic Parish Priest in
Onuogba who has been intervening on their behalf can be contacted for independent
verification of the facts stated in this statement.
Signed
Chijioke Ogbodo
Media Assistant to Professor Nnaji
More...
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has launched a legal challenge against President Bola Tinubu over the recent increase in petrol prices and alleged corruption within the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
The lawsuit, filed on Friday, September 13, 2024, at the Federal High Court in Abuja, bears the case number FHC/ABJ/CS/1361/2024.
SERAP seeks a court order compelling President Tinubu to direct the NNPCL to reverse the controversial hike in petrol prices from ₦845 to ₦600 per litre.
The suit names the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, and the NNPCL as respondents. SERAP’s legal action demands not only a rollback of the price increase but also an investigation into allegations of corruption and mismanagement within the NNPCL.
In its application, SERAP argues that the increase in petrol prices is unjust, illegal, unconstitutional, and unreasonable, impacting the economic well-being of Nigerians and calling for accountability in the management of the country’s petroleum resources.
SERAP is also asking the court “to compel President Tinubu to direct Mr Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, and appropriate anti-corruption agencies to probe the allegations of corruption and mismanagement in the NNPC, including the spending of the reported $300 million ‘bailout funds’ collected from the Federal Government in August 2024, and the $6 billion debt it owes suppliers, despite allegedly failing to remit oil revenues to the treasury.”
SERAP is asking the court “to compel President Tinubu to direct Mr Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, and appropriate anticorruption agencies to prosecute anyone suspected to be responsible for the alleged corruption and mismanagement in the NNPCL, if there is sufficient admissible evidence, and to recover any proceeds of corruption.”
In the suit, SERAP is arguing that: “The increase in petrol price is causing immense hardship to those less well-off. As the economic situation in Nigeria deteriorates, the increase is pushing people further into poverty.”
SERAP is also arguing that, “Holding the NNPC to account for alleged corruption and mismanagement in the oil sector would serve legitimate public interests.”
The suit filed on behalf of SERAP by its lawyer Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, SAN, read in part: “The increase in petrol price constitutes a fundamental breach of constitutional guarantees and the country’s international human rights obligations.”
“Corruption in the oil sector and the lack of transparency and accountability in the use of public funds to support the operations of the NNPC have resulted in persistent and unlawful hike in petrol prices.”
“Increasing petrol prices at a time when millions of Nigerians continue to face worsening economic conditions is entirely inconsistent with constitutional and international obligations to ensure the minimum living conditions compatible with human dignity.”
“The arbitrary increase has placed a disproportionate burden on the marginalized and most vulnerable sectors of society, particularly those disadvantaged by poverty.”
“The increase is seriously jeopardizing their living conditions, as well as individuals’ physical, emotional, and individual development, and intensifying and worsening socioeconomic conditions in the country.”
“The increase constitutes a serious human rights problem because of the intensity with which it undermines the enjoyment and exercise by Nigerians of their human rights and renders their civic participation illusory.”
“The fundamental right to life includes not only the right of every Nigerian not to be deprived of his/her life arbitrarily, but also the right that he/she will not be prevented from having access to the conditions that guarantee a dignified existence.”
“The growing poverty and inequality in the country has continued to adversely affect the right of Nigerians to participatory democracy, and impede their ability to participate in their own government.”
“Nigerians have for far too long been denied justice and the opportunity to get to the bottom of why they continue to pay the price for corruption in the oil sector. The increase in petrol price has rendered already impoverished citizens incapable of satisfying their minimum needs for survival.”
“The increase is not inevitable, as it stems from the persistent failure of successive governments to address the allegations of corruption and mismanagement in the oil sector and the impunity of suspected perpetrators.”
“Persistent increase in petrol prices keep people in poverty which in turn perpetuates discriminatory attitudes and practices against them.”
“The government has a legal obligation to mobilize the maximum of the country’s available resources to ensure people’s socio-economic rights and to protect the most vulnerable and disadvantaged Nigerians.”
“The government also has the legal obligations to probe and prosecute allegations of corruption and mismanagement in the NNPC, and to ensure access to justice and effective remedies for victims of corruption.”
“Investigating and prosecuting the allegations of corruption and mismanagement in the oil sector would be entirely consistent with the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended], and the country’s international anti-corruption obligations.”
“Section 13 of the Nigerian Constitution imposes clear responsibility on the government to conform to, observe and apply the provisions of Chapter 2 of the constitution. Section 15(5) imposes the responsibility on the government to ‘abolish all corrupt practices’ including in the NNPC.”
“Under Section 16(1) of the Constitution, the government has a responsibility to ‘secure the maximum welfare, freedom and happiness of every citizen on the basis of social justice and equality of status and opportunity.”
“Section 16(2) further provides that, ‘the material resources of the nation are harnessed and distributed as best as possible to serve the common good.”
“According to our information, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited recently increased the price of premium motor spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, across its retail outlets.”
“The price of the product increased to N855 per litre, from about N600, and in some instances above N900 per litre. The apparently unlawful increase in petrol price followed a scarcity caused by the reported refusal by suppliers to import petroleum products for the NNPCL over a $6 billion debt.”
“The NNPC allegedly failed to remit USD$2.04 billion and N164 billion of oil revenues into the public treasury, as documented in the recently published 2020 annual report by the Auditor-General of the Federation.”
No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.
We are not involved in commercial activities — British Navy
CONTROVERSY is currently trailing the continuous issuance of bunkering permit by the Nigerian Navy, a development stakeholders in the Nigerian maritime industry have described as an aberration.
Speaking to Vanguard at the on-going Lagos International Maritime Week, Commodore Igbani Agwu, General Manager, Planning of the Nigerian Navy, said that the Navy had to come to issuance of bunkering permit because the space had to be regulated because of the unwholesome activities being experienced in that sector.
Agwu also said that the Navy had to come into the issuance of bunkering permit because Nigeria is the only country in the world where oil theft occurs, hence the Naval intervention.
However, some stakeholders who spoke to Vanguard debunked the claims by the Navy saying that crude oil theft occurs all over the world but that the Navies of other countries are not involved in the commercial activities of their shipping industries.
A member of the Nigerian Ship Owners Association, NISA, who pleaded anonymity, said that Nigerian Navy’s involvement in the issuance of bunkering permit can only be permissible in Nigeria because of the entrenched interest the Navy as an institution has in commercial shipping activities.
The NISA member also said that oil theft takes place in Mexico, Iraq, Iran, Somalia, Cameroon, Sudan and other parts of the world.
Also commenting, the President of the Nigerian Master Mariners Association, Capt Tajudeen Alao, argued that before the Nigerian Navy started the issuance of bunkering permit, the Nigeria Customs Service was solely in charge of such issuance.
Alao explained that the Navy got involved because of the abuse of the entire process of issuing bunkering permits and approvals adding that the Navy is also put in charge of economic breaches on the nation’s waters.
He said: “The process of issuing bunkering approval is not an easy procedure. The approval is first given to the Flag Officer Commanding, FOC, who in turn sends the approval to the Headquarters of the Nigerian Navy in Abuja before permit is finally granted to the applicant,
“I agree that there is oil theft in some parts of the world but our own situation is worse than what is obtainable elsewhere. All those areas you just mention do not have creeks like we have in Nigeria. Even with the kind of measure the government has put in place, oil theft is still going on, oil pipelines are still being broken.
“Crude oil theft is an international crime, because it is big business and the people involved are ready to invest anything, money, blackmail in order to achieve their aim’’.
A British Navy officer, Commander Dan Wiskett told Vanguard that the British Navy is not in any way involved in the commercial activities of his country.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has raised serious allegations against the Presidency, accusing it of orchestrating plans to rig the September 21 governorship election in Edo State in favour of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a statement released by the PDP’s Edo State Chairman, Anthony Aziegbemi, the party claimed that the Presidency has disbursed $2 million to compromise officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security operatives, and to buy votes.
According to the PDP, the funds were also handed to APC governorship candidate, Monday Okpebholo.
The PDP further alleged that the Presidency instructed the National Security Adviser and the Department of State Services to disrupt elections in the party’s strongholds, intending to manipulate the outcome in favor of the APC.
Responding to these accusations, the APC dismissed the claims as baseless, suggesting that the PDP might be delusional.
The APC described the allegations as unfounded and designed to distract from the election process.
The statement reads in part, “As part of the evil ploy, security chiefs have been ordered to make heavy deployments to the strongholds of the PDP, especially those of Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, and our party’s candidate, Dr Asue Ighodalo, with the plan to destabilise the voting process in those areas.
“Some of the polling unit, registration area, and ward electoral officials have been discovered to be card-carrying members of the APC. Their task, we have learned, is to delay the result of their respective units with the aim of inciting violence and creating an unfavourable atmosphere during the election to favour the APC candidate during the compilation of results.”
However, the PDP said it would win the governorship election in a peaceful and credible contest, stating that its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, was poised for victory and would secure at least 70 per cent of the votes on election day.
The party called on President Bola Tinubu to live up to his responsibility as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and allow the will of the people to prevail by ensuring a free, fair, and credible election in Edo State.
“The President must realise that keeping Edo State and Nigeria safe and peaceful is his primary responsibility, and must therefore not allow the fear that his party will lose the forthcoming governorship poll in the state to lead him to disrupt peace and security, and set Edo State and Nigeria ablaze,” the party stated.
The National Deputy Organising Secretary of the APC, Nze Chidi Duru, while speaking with Sunday Punch, stated that the PDP was the party known for rigging elections.
He said, “I am hoping that it is not coming from their bad behaviour in the past when the security apparatus in the then PDP-led government of (Goodluck) Jonathan were said to have used state funds to support political endeavours.
“We hope that is not what is colouring whatever source or so-called intelligence they received. If they claim to have one, it must be something they must prove, and they are more than welcome to bring it to the public domain.
“But outside of that, it calls for concern that they are bringing up their bad behaviour, for which the party was known in the past.”
A former Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole has claimed that the embattled Deputy Governor of the state, Philip Shaibu has decamped to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
He said that Shaibu decamped to the APC out of the frustration he suffered in the hands of Governor Godwin Obaseki.
Obaseki stated this at UNIBEN during the grand finale of the APC governorship campaign.
He accused Obaseki of diverting funds and allocations from the Federal Government meant for projects in the state into his private pocket.
Oshiomhole said, “It’s only under Obaseki that his deputy governor had to decamp to APC due to his frustration.
“Obaseki has refused to sign the Peace Accord. They killed the policeman attached to our governor in waiting but Obaseki warned that they should not be arrested.”
Obaseki and Shaibu have endured a troubled relationship.
The strife led to the impeachment of Shaibu by the Edo State House of Assembly.
But an Appeal Court sitting in Abuja reinstated Shaibu as deputy governor.
Naija News reports that on September 21, the people of Edo State will decide their next governor.
Frontrunners in Saturday’s governorship election are Monday Okpebholo of the APC, Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party (LP).