NEWS
PIB: Let all sentiment be tied to national unity- Gbajabiamila
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila has urged stakeholders in the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) to place national interest above personal interest in their efforts towards the passage of the bill.
Gbajabimila made the call at a retreat titled “Petroleum Industry Bill and the Future of Nigeria,” organised by the Northern Caucus in the House of Representatives yesterday in Abuja.
While noting that the sector had been operating with an old law that was passed in 1959, describing the law as ‘obsolete and a trash’ that can no longer stimulate economic activities.
“There will always be sentiments, but all sentiments should be tied to the mutual coexistence of the Nigeria; our diversity should be a source of strength.
“Our difference should not be translated into conflicts and disunity among citizens; Nigeria should grow and continue to be the mother of the continent which she is,” he said.
Represented by Majority Leader of the house, Ado Doguwa (APC-Kano), Gbajabiamila commended the caucus for organising the retreat.
He said described the retreat as educative and a timely productive action, as it came at a time when the parliament was considering the PIB.
“The PIB is one of the most topical issues before the National Assembly and I believe each and everyone of you will be glad to be a part of this important history.
“So let us create a legislative framework that will come up with a system that is not only globally recognise, but timely and apt to organise and promote our economy engagement within and without the country Nigeria which we all belong.
“It is my believe that when this bill is passed into law, with all consideration taken, we will come up with a framework that will encourage economic engagement, within and without the country; promote oil and gas sector,” he said.
The Chairman of the caucus, Sarki Adar (APC-Sokoto), said that the idea of the retreat was not political but for developmental reasons.
He said that the PIB had suffered a lot of casualties in the past parliament, adding that the authors of the current PIB had done a good job.
The lawmaker said that was why the bill must see the light of the day because the world was already moving away from fossil oil.
According to him, in the next 20 years or there about, oil will loose its value; there is no better time than now to explore oil to development agriculture and education sectors.
Adar said that oil which had also been discovered in the North must be explored to boost revenue generation in the country.
He also said that the interest of northern host communities where oil had been discovered should be factored in the PIB.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Boss Mustapha said that the petroleum industry was a the backbone of Nigeria’s economy as it provided bulk of the funds used in running the country.
Mustapha said that he was delighted that the 9th assembly had taken up the PIB after it suffered many casualties since its introduction in 2008.
He urged the lawmakers to take a careful look at the issues concerning host communities and the governance structure of oil industry.
Mustapha said that parliamentarians should ensure increased transparency in the bill, ensure market reforms and sustainable use of revenues generated from the sector.
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Mohammed Bello said that though efforts were ongoing to diversify the economy, it was important to ensure efficient management of the oil sector.
He said that the lawmakers must ensure that the PIB does not only bring about reforms in the oil sector, it should meet the aspirations of all Nigerians.
Bello urged the lawmakers to consider funding for renewable energy as it was the new trend that will keep the economy running.
The minister said that adequate attention should be given to making gas available to all Nigerians to replace the use of firewood.
Bello said that gas was cheaper and would prevent indiscriminate felling of trees urging the lawmakers not to shy away from the onshore/offshore dichotomy. (NAN)
It is Germany’s responsibility to make sure that a war between Russia and Ukraine does not become a war between Russia and NATO, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
He said this as he repeated his “nein” to sending long-range weapons to Kiev.
“I don’t consider this to be a proper delivery and that’s how it will stay,” Scholz said after a European Union summit in Brussels.
Scholz rejected key points in Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s “victory plan” out of concerns of future escalation.
Zelensky presented his “victory plan” at the meeting and called on Scholz, again to send him Taurus cruise missiles.
The Ukrainian leader believes a deterrent missile arsenal could force Russia into peace negotiations.
Scholz also maintained his stance against a quick invitation for Ukraine to join NATO, as outlined in Zelensky’s plan.
The United States also opposes a fast-track NATO entry for Ukraine.
The chancellor referred to the resolutions of the most recent NATO summit in Washington, which offers Ukraine a general assurance that it could no longer be stopped on its way into the defence alliance.
He further said all allies must agree that NATO conditions are met for an invitation.
These include reforms in the areas of democracy, the economy and the security sector.
Scholz also used the occasion to take a swipe at his main opposition in the Bundestag or German parliament, Christian Democratic (CDU) leader Friedrich Merz.
He complained that Merz flip-flopped on Taurus deliveries, taking a no-delivery position before key elections in east Germany and changing his position after that. (dpa/NAN)
The Kebbi Government has announced the closure of the College of Health Sciences and Technology, Jega, indefinitely following a violent protest by students.
The Commissioner for Higher Education in the state, Alhaji Isah Abubakar-Tunga, made this known in Birnin Kebbi on Friday while briefing newsmen.
” Sequel to the violent protest that resulted in the setting ablaze the residence of the Provost of the college, Alhaji Haruna Saidu-Sauwa, we have directed that the college be shut down indefinitely,” he said.
Abubakar-Tunga said the action became imperative in view of the fact that if the demonstration was allowed to continue, it might escalate.
”Students are hereby advised to vacate the college premises with immediate effect.
” Their main target was the Provost, they burnt down his house and completely vandalised his car.
” When we visited the college, we only met the Registrar of the school. The Divisional Police Office (DPO) of the area yold us the provost was in a safe pace.
”But for the DPO’s intervention, the students would have lynched the provost,” he said.
Abubakar-Tunga said that the government asked the rioting students to nominate 10 representatives for dialogue.
” While deliberating with the students’ representatives, the students outlined some of their grievances to include; lack of accreditation of some courses of the college.
” Others they said are; lack of toilets, lack of potable water, poor sanitary environment, and bad leadership, among others.”
”The college will remain closed for three weeks to one month. Before the students return, they must come with their parents and must write an undertaking, promising to be of good behaviour.
“In this undertaking, every student must promise to pay for damaged property,” he said. (NAN)
The Oleh community in Delta State has petitioned the Federal Government to wade into the land dispute between it and its neighbour, Ozoro in order to avert “further bloodshed”
In the petition addressed to the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi ,(SAN) the community said that 12 people had been killed over the land dispute.
The community, therefore urged the minister to promptly wade into the dispute, by calling on the state to obey a subsisting court order on it, in other “to avert another bloodbath after the killing of Oleh 12”
The petition made available to newsmen in Abuja on Friday was signed by Mr.
Believe Unuafe and Pastor Benjamin Odize, President General and Secretary General, Oleh Community Development Union (ODU) respectively.“It is with a heavy heart that we appeal to you to intervene and urge the Secretary to Delta State Government (SSG), Dr. Kingsley Emu, to adhere/respect subsisting court judgments regarding the Oleh and Ozoro Communities land boundary issues in Delta State.
“The failure to do so had resulted in the tragic murder of twelve (12) Oleh individuals who went to farm as labourers to earn a living.on October 16, 2020.
“Oleh, as a local government headquarters, is home to peaceful and law-abiding citizens. Despite the loss of innocent lives, we have refrained from retaliatory actions.
“We implore your esteemed office, the Federal Government, and the Nigerian State to take cognisance of the oppressive actions of Dr. Kingsley Emu against the Oleh Community,” the petitioners alleged.
They added “The oppressive actions have the potential of heating the polity, such that will lead to further crisis between the two communities, if not addressed promptly,”
“It is essential to recognise that Oleh and Ozoro Communities are both local government headquarters, inhabited by predominantly non-indigenous individuals.
“The non indigene could be caught in the crossfire, if the actions or inactions of the SSG lead to violent attacks on Oleh farmers by the Ozoro people.
“It is imperative to prevent any escalation that may result in further casualty”.
They recalled that, following the killings of the 12 people in their community, the former Delta Governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, had established a Judicial Commission of Enquiry to investigate the boundary dispute.
They said the commission’s report presented on July 7, 2022, resulted in a White Paper issued by the State Executive Council and a map from the commission’s technical team.
“Regrettably, upon thorough examination of the map and the White Paper, discrepancies were discovered that undermined the original objective of seeking peace.
“Subsequently, legal action was taken, leading to a restraining order against the families of Ozoro landowners and the Delta state government.
“The court prohibited the execution of the white paper or encroachment onto the land due to inconsistencies in the map,” they said.
Highlighting the inconsistencies, the petitioners said that the map produced by the technical committee was in conflict with the white paper,
They said the allocation was in direct conflict with an earlier court judgment which confirmed ownership of the land by Oleh’s Ekrona – Ekredhegbe – Ekromokpose families along Oleh-Ozoro Road in their produced map.
“The allocation indicated areas where Oleh land owning families have obtained judgment be shared to Ozoro Community.
“The coordinates of the proposed boundary line established by the surveyors (Pp 7.4) contradicted the evidence and the actual boundaries as established during the commission’s visit to the land put in dispute by Ozoro Community.
“By this, it increased the land mass purported to be in dispute and reducing the land mass free from dispute by 15.8 hectares (39.1 acres).
This irregularity warrants the attention of the SSG and the State Government, but sadly, they have turned a blind eye to it,” they alleged.
Justifying their claims, the leaders contended that there were defunct Delta State and Federal Government establishments and institutions situated in their community’s expanse of lands about to be ceded to Ozoro.
They listed the institutions in Oleh to include, Origho Primary School, Emonsoyen, founded in 1992, Bendel Broadcasting Service, acquired by the defunct Bendel State Government over 40 years back.
“These are old landmarks known to the State and Federal Governments (INEC) that have never been in dispute or contentious.
“Therefore, shying away from the truth or politicising sensitive communal matters and hurriedly ceding our lands for selfish gains is not in the interest of peace and tranquillity,” they said.
The community leaders, therefore, urged that,
in the interest of peace and justice, the AGF should use his revered office to prevail on the state, and the SSG to give peace a chance and respect the rule of law,
“The SSG should allow the Delta State High Court holden at the Warri Judicial Division, to adjudicate on the issues submitted before it in suit No HCO/54/2022, by the aggrieved Oleh land owning families.
“We have absolute confidence in the Court to have a fair hearing, while we patiently wait for its adjudication on the Oleh/Ozoro land boundary dispute .
“It should be noted that, ceding our heritage and ancestral inheritance, which we have valid subsisting court judgment against the Ozoro Community is total disregard to the rule of law and a defeat to government efforts trying to resolve the crisis.
“We therefore seek your assistance as the Chief Law officer of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in admonishing the SSG and the Delta State Government to respect the rule of law to avert a potential breakdown of law and order.
The petition was copied to Sen. Godswill Akpabio, the Senate President, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas Speaker of the House of Represent and Sen. Joel-Onowakpo Thomas, representing
Delta South Senatorial District.
Others copied with the petition are, Hon. Ukodhiko Jonathan, Member representing Isoko North/South Constituency in the House of Representatives as well as the Attorney-General and Commissioner For Justice,
Delta State.(NAN)
Germany must Ensure Ukraine War Does not Spread to NATO – Scholz
Share It is Germany’s responsibility to make sure that a war between Russia and Ukraine does not become a war...
Kebbi Govt Shuts Down College of Health Sciences Jega Indefinitely
Share The Kebbi Government has announced the closure of the College of Health Sciences and Technology, Jega, indefinitely following a...
Boundary Dispute: Delta Community Seeks FG’s Intervention to Avert Bloodshed
Share The Oleh community in Delta State has petitioned the Federal Government to wade into the land dispute between it...
NYSC Members Lack Nothing in Daura – Emir
Share The Emir of Daura, Alhaji Faruk Umar- Faruk, says National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) members do not suffer anything...
Host Communities, Litigations Delay Trust Fund Implementation – HOSTCOM
Share The Host Communities of Nigeria Producing Oil and Gas (HOSTCOM) says some delays in Host Community Development Trust (HCDT)...
Nigerian Army Emphasises Responsible Social Media use for National Security
Share The Nigerian Army has stressed the importance of responsible social media usage in contributing to national security and development....
Defence Minister Lauds Troops in Kaduna
Share The Minister of Defence, Mohammad Badaru, said he will be visiting military formations in Kaduna State, including Birnin Gwari and...
CIBN, Sanwo-Olu, others Encourage Youth to Embrace Technology for Self-Development
ShareGov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has advised the youth in the state to actively embrace social media and technology...
Centre Destroys 2,400 Illicit Weapons in Abuja
Share The National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW), Office of the National Security Adviser,...
FCTA Seeks End to Accidents Involving Dispatch Riders on Abuja Roads
ShareThe Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has trained dispatch riders on safety measures to curb avoidable accidents involving motorcycles on...