From Samuel James, Ilorin

The University of Ilorinin still maintains its position for five years as the most preferred University in the country, according to Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, while producing 256 first class graduates.

The Vice Chancellor, Prof.

Prof Egbewole said the zeal and the commitment to sustain the higher level of the institution among others would not be compromised as that’s what it means by its appellate name “better by far”.

In his highlighting of the achievement so far, he said the university still rank first as the most preferred University in Nigeria by Jamb records for the following years, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2025, which based on its sustainability of academic excellence, research pursuits, smooth calendar, foreign institutions exchange programmes and partnerships with diverse opportunities available to both staff and the students.

He also disclosed that the University for this 39th Convocation has produced the numbers of 256 First class graduates, 3842 Second Class (Upper Division) graduates, 6,178 Second Class (Lower Division graduates, 1,299 Third Class graduates and 62 Pass degrees respectively.

The Vice Chancellor further, stated that  18 graduates received distinctions in Pharmacy and one achieved a distinction in Physiotherapy while there’s also 124 MB;BS graduands, 64 Nursing graduands, 35 Optometry graduands, 30 Veterinary Medicine graduands, and 18 graduands with Distinction, as well as 85 graduands with Pass in Pharmacy, one distinction and 32 Pass in Physiothera

Prof Egbewole added that there are a total number of 16 Diploma degree holders and the total number of Higher Degrees to be awarded at the 39th convocation ceremonies, as he said 1,875; out of this figure are 92 Postgraduate Diplomas, 1,280 Master’s Degree from various faculties, 179 Professional Masters, one MPhil, and 323 Ph.Ds.

While speaking on the challenges facing the administration of the university he talks on the multiplier effect of the removal of the petroleum subsidy, particularly its implications for prices of goods and services for both staff and students.

The other challenges listed by the Vice Chancellor, includes increases in electricity tariffs, the galloping inflation, and infrastructural needs to meet evolving demands of ivory tower education in a rapidly changing world.

The Vice Chancellor however stated that all these challenges have tested the resolve of the management to be brave and to pay the price through adoption of some strategies to tackle it as they are inevitable.

Egbewole also revealed that a total sum of N1,656,944,930.00bn was allocated to the university as a

TETFund intervention in the year under review. While added that the fund covered 11 areas like physical infrastructure/program upgrade, academic staff training, ICT support with the inclusion sum of N250,000,000.00 for different projects in interventions as well.

By Ubong Ukpong, Abuja

The Federal Ministry of Environment has disagreed with the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) over the approval given to an oil company, Aiteo E and P, operating in Nembe, Bayelsa State, to carry out barging activities.

Representatives of the company at a hearing by the House of Representatives Committee on Environment said it got approval from NUPRC to barge, which means transporting crude from their facility in Nembe through the Brass River out to the Atlantic Ocean.

The hearing was to probe the environmental impact of transporting crude oil by mega seagoing vessels from Nembe Creek Trunk to offshore crude oil storage in the Atlantic Ocean by Aiteo E and P, as well as the oil spillage in Olugboboro Community in Southern Ijaw Bayelsa State from Nigerian Agip Oil Company (now Oando Oil Ltd) facility.

Chief Operating Officer, Aieto, Ewarezi Useh Aieto said it was a temporary measure which started last year borne out of necessity due to the activities of vandals on the pipelines.

However, the representative of the Minister of Environment, Dr Musa Gashau, said the approval given to the company to operate did not include barging activities.

Chairman of the committee, Pondi Gbabador, queried the inconsistencies in the approvals between government agencies over the same issue.

Useh said they had no other option, otherwise they would shut down production.

On the time agreed for the barging, the Aiteo woman said the Environment Impact Assessment, which gave the approval has a lifespan of five years and it was gotten in November 2020.

She said it was still valid.

But the Ministry of Environment insisted Aieto does not have a valid approval to carry out their barging activities in Nembe.

He said, “The Eia approval did not cover barging. Records available to the Ministry indicate the approval only covered the installation of a 54km crude oil pipeline and a 14 storage platform of the capacity of 3.5 million barrels. It did not cover barging.”

Aiteek woman said for the agreement with the Ministry of Environment, barging was not part of the agreement, but the NUPRC which is also a regulator they went through all the whole hog of getting all the requirements for barging crude.

Responding to enquiries, the Manager Health Safety and Environment, Aiteo, Augustina Amaka Bisong, said their activities do not damage the environment as all considerations have been made to address such.

She said there was no spillage in the entire process.

He said they were supposed to be a 120, 000 barrels producing facility but because of the theft and even with the barging, they are struggling to do between 30, 000 and 40, 000 right now.

The Director General of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), Engr Chukwuemeka, said there has been no incident of oil spillage since the operation commenced.

However the committee expressed reservations about the claim that their activities did not have adverse effects on the environment.

It resolved to embark on an oversight to have first-hand information about the true state of things for further necessary legislative actions.

Also, the Deputy Manager Environment Oando, Akuduro Philip, called for legislative support to address the issue of oil theft and vandalism which he said has far reaching consequences.

He said they operate in four states including Bayelsa and statistics show that about 90 percent of all their spill events are caused by third party interferences on their facilities.

He further said particularly in Bayelsa State 80 percent of spillage is within Southern Ijaw, where Olugboboro Community is.

From Mike Tayese, Yenagoa

The Inspector -General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun has bowed to pressure over the quit notice issued by popular Hotel owner, Euphemie Motel, with a direct order for the SWAT to quit the premises of the motel occupied inside Opu-Nembe in Nembe Bassambiri community of Nembe Local Government Area of the State.

The Order was issued following the threat to drag the IGP to Court over the alleged unpaid debt incurred by the Police SWAT team deployed from 12th of August, 2023 till date.

The lodging debt, according to the report, was incurred by the Police Special squad identified as SWAT led by one CSP Silas Adebayo for a reported sting operation in the Opu Nembe community ahead of the last Governorship elections in the area.

The SWAT team had allegedly invaded the Opu Nembe community and occupied the Euphemie Motel, turning it into their operational base without due permission from its owners.

The SWAT teams were allegedly drafted to the area on the request of the Former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and the Governorship flag bearer of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the last election, Chief Timipre Sylva.

The Counsel to the owner of the Euphemie Motel, Inemoye Maxwell Brown Esq. in a letter dated 9th of October, 2024, confirmed to newsmen in Yenagoa that the Nigerian Police, “as a respectable and responsible establishment has gracefully implemented on the prayer one as contained therein within the time frame provided as the SWAT team vacated our clients hotel on the 3rd day of October,2024”

Inemoye Maxwell Brown Esq however called on the Inspector-General of Police,Kayode Egbetokun and the top echelon of the Nigerian Police to attend, with utmost dispatch to the second prayer in the petition of the Client requesting for the sum of N625,000,000 only covering the above period from 12th August, 2023 to 12th September, 2024 be paid within six weeks upon receipt of the correspondence.

Recall that the popular Hotel owner, Euphemie Motel,had through his prayers informed the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun and the Chairman, Police Service Commission, stated that the 50-bedroom hotel with lodging fee of N25,000 per night and two conference rooms of N100,000 per day with indoor and outdoor relaxation spots, was occupied by the Police Personnel without payment for over 13 months.

According to Inemoye Maxwell Brown, “Our client’s business premises and the facilities are almost in complete ruin and a complete renovation is imminent. And it is imperative to restore their facilities with a view to return to normal business.”

“We therefore call on the Police IG to use his good office to direct your men and officers, who had forcefully moved into and occupied our client’s hotel as described from 12th of August, 2023 till date and counting in Opu Nembe to immediately vacate within six weeks upon receipt of this correspondence”

“That the sum of N625,000,000 only covering the above period from 12th August, 2023 to 12th September, 2024 be paid within six weeks upon receipt of the correspondence.”