By Laide Akinboade, Abuja

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barr. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike has called on residents of the Federal Capital Territory to shun any planned protest in the nation’s capital.The FCT Minister made the call in Abuja on Thursday, when he inspected the ongoing construction of the 5km access road from the Outer Northern Expressway (ONEX) to the old Keffi road, also known as Saburi Road, in the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) of the FCT.

Barr. Wike, who spoke in pidgin English while interacting with residents of Saburi, said those behind the protests were only working for their selfish political interests, adding that the problems in the country could not be solved by acts of protests.He empathized with FCT residents over the economic difficulties in the country and reassured that the government was sincere, committed, and working round the clock to provide the needed succor. The Minister also expressed confidence in the ability of the Bola Government to bring about the desired change in the country, stressing that the difficulties occasioned by the economic reforms were temporary and would soon be a thing of the past and sued for patience among FCT residents. He said, “I know say so many things don spoil before now, no bi so? And when everything spoil like that, e no go just be overnight you go do everything well again, no bi am? e go take small small. I know say as all of us dey here, you expect say as this government come, every problem e go solve am within one day, is it possible? “What is giving people hope be say as we come we say we go do this road and we start to do it. Which means in the future things go better. If you know how bad things dey for this country before now..so make una have patient and see wetin go happen, see weda things no go better. That is the promise”Speaking on the impact of the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Federal Government in the FCT, the Minister said hope was gradually being restored in the FCT with the accelerated provision of vital infrastructure, which has helped to improve the lives of the people.The Minister while also responding to a request by a member of the Saburi community for the provision of a police station and health center in the community, assured that they would be provided in due course.Barr. Wike who was accompanied on the inspection visit by the AMAC Chairman, Christopher Maikalangu, the Coordinator, Satellite Town Development Department (STDD), Hon. Abdulkadir Zulkiflu, former Senator representing the FCT, Senator Tanimu Aduda amongst others, used the opportunity to extract a commitment from the AMAC Chairman to provide a health center, while committing that the FCTA will construct a police station for the community.While assuring the members of the community that the FCTA will build a police station for the community soon, the Minister urged them to hold the chairman responsible if they do not get the health centre.He further urged members of the community to go on about their legitimate businesses and resist any attempt to lure them into joining any form of protests against the government in the FCT while assuring them that the FCT Administration will continue to work towards bringing development to the FCT and residents.The Minister said that the Saburi Road under construction was one of such projects by the FCTA aimed at opening up and bringing development to the FCT.Earlier, the Managing Director of Lubrick Construction, the construction company handling the road project, Mr. Anthony El-Khoury, assured the Minister that the project was going according to the schedule and will be completed on time.

By Ubong Ukpong, Abuja

The House of Representatives on Thursday pledged its continuous commitment to ensure legislations that would align with the contemporary needs of the country in skills acquisition and management.Chairman of the Committee on Industry, Dr. Enitan Dolapo Badru, disclosed this at a public hearing organised by the Committee to consider a Bill for an Act to amend the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) Act 2011 to clarify ambiguities in the interpretation of key words in the Principal Act, define important terms, provide clarity and precision and enhance the Fund’s sources of revenue and for related matters (HB 1519) of 2024.

“For the records, the existing legal framework for Industrial Training Funds was enacted in 2011, this piece of Legislation has been in operation in the last thirteen years, and you will certainly agree with me that skill acquisition and management have evolved overtime that the existing Legislation can only stand the test of time when it’s in alignment with the contemporary legal order,” he said.He said the 10th House was committed to legislation that would ensure the enhancement of better life for citizenry.The Lawmaker said the Public Hearing which marked one of the major steps by the House of Representatives in the passage of any Legislation was grass-root oriented and developmental focused.He said, “In particular, let me on behalf of the Rt. Hon. Speaker who is the Chief Host of today’s event most respectively welcome the Honorable Ministers present and Chief Executives of Agencies of Government who have found time to be part of this history making event whereof, the existing Legislation regulating skills acquisition and Development will be discussed in line with the contemporary best practices and Renewed Hope Agenda of the current Administration.“For the avoidance of doubt, this Public Hearing is organized by the House Committee on Industry pursuant to the House mandate to the Committee after a Second Reading of the Bill.“This referral was forwarded to the Committee on the 11th July, 2024 for further Legislative action. The Committee considered the importance of the Proposed Bill and took the bull by the horn, which necessitated this Public Hearing involving the relevant Stakeholders.“It’s the Committee’s resolve to synthetize the various views from the Stakeholders and arrive at a just and reasonable position that will be presented to the House for adoption.“I therefore implore everyone to diligently itemize areas of intervention as we promise to do justice to the memoranda and justice would have been seen to be done at the end.”

By Eze Okechukwu, Abuja

The Senate is blowing hot over alleged economic sabotage by stakeholders within the petroleum sector, thus summoning the Minister of Petroleum, Central Bank of Nigeria, Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited, Nigeria Ports Authority for interrogation.Briefing journalists yesterday at the national assembly, the Leader of the Senate, Senator Micheal Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central) said that the Senate has set up a 15man ad-hoc Committee with the mandate to unveil the alleged saboteurs in the sector.

Key among the stakeholders in the petroleum sector summoned to appear before the Committee at a public hearing fixed between September 10th to 12th, 2024 are the Minister of State for Petroleum, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), the Central Bank of Nigeria ( CBN) and the Nigeria Ports Authority ( NPA).Others, according senator Opeyemi were the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission ( NUPRC), Nigeria Customs Service, Nigerian Navy, International Oil Companies ( IOCs) , Dangote Group , Capital Oil, Modular Refineries etc.The Committee was set up by the Senate in a plenary on Wednesday, July 3rd 2024 through a resolution adopted after exhaustive debate by the Senators, following a motion sponsored by Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong (APC, Cross River South) on the importation of hazardous products and dumping of substandard diesel into Nigeria.In his speech at the press briefing, Senator Bamidele said: “The rationale for this news conference is pure and simple.”It mainly borders on the alleged economic sabotage in the petroleum industry, including the recent accusations and counter of importation of petroleum products into the country.”Given its consequences on our domestic economy, the Senate under the able leadership of The President of the Senate,Senator Godswill Akpabio, constituted this 15-man Ad-hoc Committee to investigate Alleged Economic Sabotage in the Nigerian Petroleum Industry on July 3, 2024.”Specifically, the Committee as mandated by the Senate would examine the pre-shipment and pre-discharge standard test parameters adopted by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Regulatory Authority with a view to uncovering loopholes, if any, being exploited to get toxic cargoes into the country.”Determine the level of compliance of the NNPCL’s Direct Sale and Direct Purchase (DSP) arrangements in line with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act, including the extent of transparency and accountability.”Beam legislative searchlight on the activities of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), including payments made to transporters in the last 10 years.”Enquire from the NNPCL the state/status of the 22 depots built by the defunct NNPC to eliminate road distribution of petroleum products.”Engage with stakeholders within the oil and gas industry with a view to identifying possible gaps in regulating and strengthening the surveillance and monitoring structures in place to enable Nigeria to detect violations of best practice standards in the importation of products before they enter into the domestic supply chains.”Also engage with the NNPCL with a view to understanding the extent of its determination and timelines for the start-up of government-funded oil refineries.”Investigate how institutions across the importation and distribution chain failed to conduct quality sampling, shipped in products without auditing, and performedport validations by the Nigeria Customs Service, Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON); and Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).”Consequently, according to senator Opeyemi who is also the Chairman of the 15- man committee, he pointed out that they have resolved to carry out the investigations holistically and thoroughly and has written all the relevant stakeholders in the sector for submission of relevant documents and appearance before it during public hearing, fixed for September 10th to September 12th, 2024.In their separate remarks at the press briefing, all the members of the Committee vowed to unravel the rot in the sector and declared that it will no longer be business as usual.According to them, their integrity is at stake and there would be no room for sacred cows, declaring” that a warrant of arrest would be issued on any head of agency who refuses to honour an invitation for appearance.”Members of the Committee are Senators Asuquo Ekpenyong , Abdullahi Yahaya, Mohammed Momguno, Adeola Olamilekan , Diket Plank , Harry Banigo , Khabeeb Mustapha, Adams Oshiomhole, Jonah Eteng , Adetokunbo Abiru , Osita Izunaso, Sahabi Ya’u Alhaji Abdul Ningi and Ifeanyi Ubah.