CSOs Commend Tinubu For Reappointing Mele Kyari as NNPCL GCEO

 

From Sheriff Odunola

Group under aegis of Coalition of Civil Society Organisations have commended President Bola Tinubu for reappointing  Engineer Mele Kyari as the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited. 

According to the CSOs, the appointment is not only well deserved and reward for hardwork,but also necessary to ensure that the ongoing reforms are carried out to the later. 

The Civil Society Organisations,which made the commendation in a press statement signed by the  Chairman and Secretary,Comrade Ephraim Jonathan  and Comrade Yusuf Ibrahim Kudan said,"By the reappointment of Kyari,President Tinubu has demonstrated a high sense of focus and commitment to uninterrupted and smooth operations of the National oil industry . 

While acknowledging Kyari's reform programmes and the major panacea for enhanced transparency and efficiency in the operations of NNPCL, the group said the idea of setting up of a new trading subsidiary, establishment of a new crude oil marketing division, and the implementation of a new performance management system ,which enhances accountability in the Nigerian oil and gas sector was a magic wand . 

  

It recalled ,  "When Mele Kyari assumed duty as the Group Managing Director of the now-defunct Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) on July 7, 2019, it was at a critical period not only in the life of the corporation but for the entire Nigerian oil and gas sector as well as the national economy.

"With his appointment in 2021 by Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari as chief executive officer of the Nigerian National Oil Company Limited (NNPCL), the successor company to the NNPC under the new dispensation ushered in by the petroleum industry act, which came into force in 2021, the TAPE became the standard for steering the new company forward in a global economy still reeling from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, which devastated the world in 2020 and 2021.

"It has become obvious that since he was appointed, the performance of the NNPCL has been impressive with  situations,  which appeared insurmountable, turned around."

Speaking  further about on-going reforms  and  company's growth from a loss-making one into a profit-making commercial entity, it single out the efforts at checkmating crude oil theft and illegal refineries as significant spike that help to boost  daily oil production. Adding  that Nigeria has regained its position as the largest crude oil producer in Africa, ahead of Algeria’s 1.021mb/d and Angola’s 1.088mb/d in November 2022.

  

"It gladdens the hearth to note that NNPCL posted its second consecutive year of ‘profit’ announcing N674.1 billion in the 2021 financial period and growing it from N287 billion in 2020. The figure represented an increase of N387 billion or 134.8% when compared to the previous N287 billion recorded in 2020.

"We have also noticed that the lingering fuel scarcity characterised by long queues at filling station is gradually becoming history. And with the  availability of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) as a  feat  Nigerians will remember Kyari led management for."

"Worthy of note is the good news that  $2.8bn Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano (AKK) gas pipeline project  constructed by Oilserve Limited will be inaugurated December.The AKK pipeline is a 614km-long pipeline to transport natural gas from southern Nigeria to central Nigeria.

"The most impressive accomplishments of Kyari’s stewardship at NNPCL is the  commencement of commercial oil  to  exploration in the Northern part of Nigeria.The Kolmani Oil Field, estimated to have a reserve of about one billion barrels of crude oil, OPL 809 and 810, lie in the Gongola Basin of the Upper Benue Trough, straddling Bauchi and Gombe States. 

"The laudable  Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline (NMGP),which is an  initiative of the federal government of Nigeria and the Kingdom of Morocco, is a 5,600 kilometers gas pipeline project traversing 13 African countries namely: Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Gambia, Senegal and Mauritania to Morocco is indeed a great feat. "

Kebbi State Government rejects impersonating Journalist threatening elected, political office holders

 

By Our Reporter

The Chief Press Secretary to the Kebbi State Governor Ahmed Idris has raised an alarm over the attitude of one Abdullahi who claimed to be a journalist, going round the state threatening elected and political office holders in the name of the state government.

 Idris, who disclosed this in a statement made available to Newsmen in Birnin Kebbi on Thursday.

Idris noted with dismay that his Principal, His Excellency, Comrade Dr Nasir Idris anf other media aids of the Governor were not happy about the development, describing it as an attempt to smear the good image of the present administration and journalists in the state.

According to him, the impersonator claimed to be writing for "Trust Lucky Magazine".

He, however, said that investigations revealed that the said Abdullahi was neither a member of Kebbi State Corresponts' Chapel nor the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ).

"In essence, this man is an impersonator, because as a practicing Journalist, you are expected to register with these two bodies. It must be understood that this government has not sent any journalist to go and intimidate, harass or threaten anybody.

"Therefore, Government is appealing to all elected and political office holders across the state to seek verification from the office of the chief press Secretary to the kebbi state Governor, Commissioner for Information, Special Adviser on Media in case of anybody claiming to be from government," he advised.

While describing the dirty act of Abdullahi as malicious, Idris urged government officials to be vigilant in dealing with Journalists so as not to fall into the wrong hands. 

CSOs Ask NLC, TUC to Consider Economic Hardship,End Strike

 

By Editor

Northern based Coalition of Civil Society Organisations have asked the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress to consider current economic hardship Nigerians are facing and Call-off the ongoing National Strike immediately.

According to the CSOs, the untold hardship caused by the indefinite strike, especially in the north is becoming unbearable for the ordinary citizens, who eke living from daily economic activities. 

In the 8-point communique issued after an emergency meeting held at Arewa House, Kaduna today, the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations urged the labour unions to consider alternative dispute resolution mechanisms other than strike actions  to achieve their demands  that will usually ground the economy and cause more hardships to common man. 

The communique jointly signed by the Chairman and Secretary,Comrade Musa Abdullahi Danbatta and Comrade Yusuf Ibrahim Kudan ,the CSOs said though NLC has the right to mount pressure on government to achieve its demands , the timing is wrong considering the plethora of challenges facing country now . 

While stating that they are not insensitive to the plights of labour unions and reasons  for the strike , they want the labour unions to consider and be mindful  that the issues raised are inherited problems ,which are currently being addressed by the federal government . Adding, " it would be counter-productive to slow the process down with  incessant strike actions, when round table engagements could be better option. "

The Communique further reads: " We have followed with keen interest , the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu led administration and discovered that his economic policies are geared toward economic recovery and ensuring a sustainable sectoral growth and development.

"It is against this background that we resolved  the  Nigeria Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress and other labour unions should call-off the strike action immediately and consider a round table engagement with federal on issues of their demands . 

"We therefore call on respected labour unions to support  President Ahmed Tinubu to move the country forward, considering that since assuming  office on May 29,203 has demonstrated committed to tackling the economic problems inherited and began the journey to rebuild the country’s battered economy in a difficult situation.

"NLC and TUC should  consider that the President was able to take a bold and courageous decision to remove the fuel subsidy to avert a national economic catastrophe of epic proportions,which stunted the growth of economy over the years. 

"That it was in  consideration  of the pains on Nigerians and workers especially that the government rolled out intervention in form Palliatives to help cushion the unintended negative impacts of subsidy removal,such as;  working out a minimum wage and salary increase, supporting states and local governments ,  providing fertilizers to farmers, grains to households, cash transfers to people with low incomes.

"That  it is worthy of note  that President Tinubu  laid out  steps to improve incentives for civil servants, including salary increases, improving quality and hygiene of working environments. His payroll-system reforms removed thousands of ghost workers from the system"

The CSOs also asked the labour unions consider the federal government's Petroleum industry reforms aimed at  improving crude oil production output and the ongoing efforts made to repatriate of looted funds, which will no doubt help in revenue generation and enhanced economic stability.

While highlighting Tinubu's economic recovery reforms, they observed that government has set up a Tax and Fiscal Reforms Committee that is fully at work to deepen the ongoing reforms and reposition the national economy for long-term sustainability. 

However, they expressed optimism that these reforms will help reduce the impact of the high cost of living on the citizens.Adding ,"The support bof labour unions as pressure groups is required to help the President focus on redirecting the economy and remove  impediments to productivity and competitiveness in order to grow and create millions of decent jobs that are essential for long term economic growth."

Vigilante neutralises 4 bandits in Bena District

 

By Editor 

A vigilante has successfully killed four bandits after they attacked one person of Dan-Umaru village of Bena District in Kebbi State on Monday.

Alhaji Ahmed Idris, Chief Press Secretary to Kebbi State Governor disclosed this in a statement made available to Journalists in Birnin Kebbi on Monday.

Idris quoted Alhaji AbdulRahman Usman, Director, Security at the Cabinet Office, Birnin Kebbi as revealing the success story.

He narated that when th bandits lunched an attack on the village, the vigilante quickly took position and ambushed them and successfully killed all the four attackers while on their way back to Zamfara State.

The director said the dead bodies were taken to Dan-Umaru village, adding that the incident took place near Dan-Umaru boardering Dadin Duniya in Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

He confirmed that the person attacked by the bandits was responding to treatment at an undisclosed hospital. 

Kebbi Information Commissioner sponsors 14 vulnerable girls to tertiary schools

 

By editor

The Kebbi state Commissioner of Information and Culture, Alhaji Yakubu Ahmed BK has sponsored 14 vulnerable girls from poor background to tertiary institutions in the state.

This sponsorship was in fulfillment of the promise he made to the girls when, while on a visit to the Magajin Rafi Model School, Tudun Wada Birnin Kebbi - venue of a skills acquisition program arranged for girls in the neighborhood, he met a group of over 200 girls who lamented their inability to further their education based on the poor status of their parents.

The Commissioner, upon hearing their pitiable story, inquired how many of them had the requisite SSCE grades and was surprised when many of theme raised their fingers, with most of them lamenting that they could not secure admissions because their parents were either late or very poor to fund their education.

Alhaji Yakubu Ahmed who expressed sadness over their plight promptly undertook to personally secure admissions and pay for the admission forms and registration fees for some of them. At the time he went to work to get the admissions, the Federal University Birnin Kebbi, the state University and the state College of Nursing Sciences have already completed intake and have long started lectures. Only the Waziri Umaru Federal Polytechnic Birnin Kebhi was still admitting and he quickly got admission for 14 of them to read various courses.

The admission papers were presented to the happy girls yesterday by Muhammad Abubakar, an aide of the Commissioner who conveyed the Commissioner’s pledge to repeat the same exercise in the coming years.

The girls expressed happiness for the kindness and promised not to let the Commissioner down by putting their best in their education.

Security neutralises wanted notorious bandit, Mai-Nasara, killed 2 in Kebbi

 

By Editor 

A team of security operatives of the Nigerian Army has neutralised a wanted notorious bandit Nicknamed Mai-Nasara at Sangeko forest in Kebbi State.

The team also killed two others suspected bandits believed to be members of the same gang.

Alhaji Ahmed Idris, Chief Press Secretary to Kebbi State Governor disclosed this in a statement made available to Journalists in Birnin Kebbi on Monday.

Idris quoted Alhaji AbdulRahman Usman, Director, Security at the Cabinet Office, Birnin Kebbi as revealing the success story.

While applauding the gallant efforts of the security personnel in fighting crimes and criminalities in the state especially in the Southern part of Kebbi, Usman appealed to people to give the personnel all the necessary cooperation and support to succeed.

"Your support and cooperation is highly necessary for the security agencies to achieve the desired goal of flushing out criminals and restore peace and normalcy in our land. 

"Therefore, there is need for people to assist the security agencies with credible intelligence towards successful combats," he pleaded. 

End 

Signed: 

Ahmed Idris, Chief Press Secretary to Kebbi State Governor.

30/10/2023.

Kebbi Gov't. seeks synergy with FG in supporting women widows, orphans

 

By Editor

The Kebbi State Government has sought for synergy with Federal Government in supporting women, widows and less privileged persons in the state. 

 Chief Press Secretary  (CPS) to Kebbi State Governor, Mr Ahmed Idris made this known in a statement he issued.

Idris in his statement said the State's Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Halima Kamba made the plea at a meeting with the Hon. Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs Uju Kennedy of recent. 

The CPS  said the meeting was organised by the Federal Ministry of women Affairs in attendance were M.D.A and other donor agencies such as unicef, Save the Children, Nigeria for Women Project UNFP.

According to the CPS, "she said the meeting, which was meant to streamline gender equality and women empowerment, if implemented it would reduce the suffering of women across the state.

"The Commissioner applauded the efforts of Kebbi State Governor, Dr Nasir Idris for collaborating with donor agencies to bring positive development into the state.

"Responding, the Hon. Minister expressed delight over the performance of Kebbi State governor in supporting women, gender equality policy in the state, while promising to partner with the state government in restructuring and empowering women in the state. 

"The meeting was attended by women commissioners across the 36 states of the country and FCT," he said.