NEWS
Group Demands Kyari’s Removal, Threatens to Occupy NNPCL August 22
By David Torough, Abuja
The Civil Society Network on Economic and Social Advancement (CSNOESA) has called on President Bola Tinubu to immediately sack the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari for lack of competency, transparency and accountability.
The group led by its national spokesperson, Abukakar Yale made the call at a world press conference in Abuja on Wednesday. They said that despite huge resources invested in the company, incessant fuel scarcity has persisted across the country at exorbitant rates thereby causing untold hardship to Nigerians.The group pointed out that on assumption of office for over four years ago, Kyari’s promise to make Nigeria’s refineries to work failed.According to the group, the NNPCL under Kyari has also faced with a litany of allegations that paint a glooming picture of mismanagement, corruption and a blatant disregard for the directives of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu.They said that they would be left with no choice than to launching a nationwide campaign to collect one million signatures, which we will presented to President Tinubu as a clear demonstration of the people’s resolve to end the reign of mismanagement and corruption at the NNPCL.”The allegations against the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of NNPC Limited, Engr. Mele Kyari, are not mere hearsay; they are substantiated by credible evidence that demands immediate attention and action.”Again, It is general knowledge that President Tinubu means well for Nigerians but Kyari’s disregard for President Tinubu’s directive to sell crude oil to the Dangote Refinery in Naira is trying to paint the President in bad light.”This disregard for the President’s order undermines our nation’s efforts to support local refining capacity and reduce our reliance on imported petroleum products. “Furthermore, the revelation that NNPC Limited staff members and oil traders are operating a blending plant in Malta raises serious questions about the company’s commitment to transparency and accountability.”We are appalled by the mounting allegations of fraud, embezzlement, and corruption within the NNPC Limited under the leadership of Engr. Mele Kyari. “The reports of fuel subsidy scams, under-remittance of oil sales revenue, corruption, shady pipeline surveillance contracts, and oil theft are simply unacceptable. These acts of financial impropriety have had a devastating impact on the majority of Nigerians, while benefiting only a few greedy individuals.”One of the most alarming allegations is the deduction of N2.1 trillion from the monthly revenue of NNPC, which was not remitted to the Federation Account. This is a blatant violation of the public trust and a clear indication of the mismanagement of our nation’s resources.”Additionally, the supply of adulterated or bad fuel that entered the country from 2022 to 2024, causing damage to many vehicle engines and generators, is a grave concern. “These allegations of massive corruption and fraudulent diversion of billions of dollars to personal and cronies’ accounts must be thoroughly investigated, and Engr. Mele Kyari should be prosecuted if found guilty.The NNPC Limited has not been transparent in publishing its crude contracts and statements of accounts under Engr. Mele Kyari’s leadership. In 2022, Kyari and the NNPC management failed to remit any funds to the Federation Account for seven consecutive months. Despite Nigeria recording N16 trillion in oil sales during that year, the NNPC did not make any remittances. This lack of financial responsibility is unacceptable and raises serious questions about the management of the company’s revenues.”Mele Kyari must be held accountable for these actions and provide transparency regarding the companies that received subsidy payments. “Sadly, it is even more concerning that Engr. Mele Kyari, who allegedly shortchanged every Nigerian through under-remittance to the Federation, has been allowed to remain in charge of the NNPC Limited, while heads of other important departments and the EFCC have been sacked, arrested, and probed. This raises the question of why the case of the NNPC Limited led by Engr. Mele Kyari is being treated differently.” the group submitted.
The Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) has clinched 15 Chairmanship seats in Saturday’s Local Government Elections in Abia, while the Young Progressives Party (YPP) won two seats.The Chairman of the Abia State Independent Electoral Commission (ABSIEC), Prof George Chima, announced the result of the chairmanship poll at thecommission’s headquarters in Umuahia.
Chima said: “We have carried out the duty we were inaugurated on September 5 to undertake. “It was not an easy task, but we went out on our way to create awareness about the elections across the state. “It must be noted that, in recent times, this commission has not conducted an election where over 12 political parties took part, this on its own is a plus to the commission.”The ABSIEC boss said that the chairmanship and councillorship polls took place in the 17 Local Government Areas (LGAs).He described the exercise as “free fair and credible”.He said that the elections were a demonstration of the commission’s dedication, focus and efficiency.Chima expressed joy that the commission successfully completed, in just two months, a task that typically required six to 12 months of effort.“I congratulate the winners and the losers too, because in any election there must be winners and losers.“The most important thing is that Abia has been peaceful and I want the peace to continue.“I appreciate the security agencies for their support, political parties for playing the game according to the rule,” Chima said.Report says that ZLP won in Isiala Ngwa South, Isiala Ngwa North, Umuahia North, Umuahia South, Ukwa East, Ukwa West, Obingwa, Aba North, Aba South, Isuikwuato, Umunneochi, Arochukwu, Bende, and Ohafia LGAs.The remaining two LGAs of Osisioma and Ugwunagbo were won by YPP. (NAN)
Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris appeared on the “Saturday Night Live” TV comedy show on Saturday, adding a surprise jolt to the U.S presidential election ust three days before her with showdown with Republican Donald Trump.“Keep Calm-ala and carry on-ala,” Harris said in unison with the actor who plays her on the show, Maya Rudolph.
It was Harris’ first time on the show, which has had other presidential candidates over its decades-long run. Trump appeared during his first presidential bid in 2015, where he poked fun at his tendency to exaggerate and steer clear of policy specifics.He also appeared in 2004, long before he entered politics.A Trump aide said he didn’t know if he had been invited to appear this year.Earlier on Saturday, Harris and Trump’s planes shared the tarmac in Charlotte, North Carolina, as the two candidates held dueling events in the southern state, one of a handful that will determine the outcome of Tuesday’s election.It was the fourth day in a row that the candidates campaigned in the same state.Only seven states are seen as truly competitive, but poll released on Saturday showed Harris holding a surprise lead in Iowa, a state Trump won easily in the last two elections.Trump and Harris stuck to familiar themes at their appearances.Trump said he would deport millions of immigrants if elected and warned that if Harris wins, “Every town in America would be turned into a squalid, dangerous refugee camp.”Campaigning in Atlanta, Harris said Trump would abuse his power if he returned to the White House.“This is someone who is increasingly unstable, obsessed with revenge, consumed with grievance, and the man is out for unchecked power,” she said.More than 75 million Americans have already cast ballots, according to the Election Lab at the University of Florida, in a sign of voter enthusiasm.In North Carolina, the western counties that were devastated by Hurricane Helene appeared to be voting at roughly the same rate as the rest of the state, according to Catawba College political science professor Michael Bitzer.At a later rally in Salem, Virginia, Trump said he ran for office to rescue the economy from “obliteration” even though it would have been easier to relax at one of his oceanfront resorts.“I didn’t need to be here today,” he said. “I could have been standing on that beach, my beautiful white skin getting nice and being smacked, being smacked in the face by a wave loaded up with salt water.”Trump was joined on stage by women from a local college swim team who have objected to competing against transgender athletes.Some of Trump’s TV ads have sought to capitalise on transgender controversies.Meanwhile, Kamala Harris has surpassed Donald Trump in a new poll in Iowa, according to the Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll released on Saturday.Women voters are likely responsible for the turnaround in a state that Trump easily won in 2016 and 2020.The poll of 808 likely voters, who were surveyed Oct. 28-31, has Harris leading Trump 47%-44% in Iowa, which has been trending deeply Republican in recent years.It is within the 3.4 percentage point margin of error, but it marked a turnaround from a September Iowa Poll that had Trump with a 4-point lead, the newspaper reported.“The poll shows that women — particularly those who are older or who are politically independent — are driving the late shift toward Harris,” the Register said.Trump senior adviser Jason Miller said the Iowa poll was “idiotic” and an outlier that has no credibility. (Reuters/NAN)The Katsina State chapter of the National Association of Scrap and Waste Dealers, Employers of Nigeria, has inaugurated a 200-member task force committee to tackle vandals hiding under their umbrella.
Report says that during the inauguration in Katsina on Saturday, the association also launched its newly elected executive members in the state.
Alhaji Aminu Hassan-Soja, the North Regional President of the association, said the aim of the committee was to curtail vandalism in the state.
Hassan-Soja said: “There is no doubt, vandalism has now become a serious threat to the nation, and Katsina in particular, and accusing fingers are pointing at our members.
“To show the world that we are not vandals, criminals or thieves, but we are doing our legal businesses, that’s why we inaugurated this task force committee.
“The aim is to complement the efforts of government in tackling the activities of vandals in the nation, this is the focus of the committee.
“Our business is about buying and selling metals. I can confidently say that this business is contributing so much to the country’s economy, apart from reducing unemployment.”
He also revealed that scrap and waste dealers also clean the environment, and control the country’s economy through the supply of raw materials to over 70 per cent of Nigerian companies.
“Some of the companies we supply with the raw materials include steel, plastic, and also roofing sheets, where we supply them with scrap metals. We support the country’s economy through sustaining the recycling industry.
“Because without our activities, no investor will come to Nigeria because they can not see raw materials to process and make finished products.
“Also, most of our companies will wind-up because there’s no raw materials for them to process. This is where we contribute to the development of the country’s economy,” he said.
The regional president further explained that across the country, they have over 5 million members engaging and benefitting from the business, while Katsina accounted for over 200,000 members.
Also speaking, a member of Katsina State House of Assembly, representing Funtua constituency, Alhaji Abubakar Total said the assembly was not planning to ban the scrap activities, but trying to sanitise the business.
According to Total, there are some bad elements hiding under the association to vandalise and steal public and other people’s property in the state.
He explained that the assembly only urged the government to find a way of regulating their activities by engaging the leadership of the association and other relevant stakeholders. (NAN)
Abia LG Polls: ZLP Wins 15 Chairmanship Seats, YPP
ShareThe Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) has clinched 15 Chairmanship seats in Saturday’s Local Government Elections in Abia, while the Young...
Ebonyi: I’ll Restore PDP’s Lost Glory – Says new Chairman, Nwele
Share The new Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ebonyi, Mr Peter Nwele, has promised that the newly...
Trump, Harris Make their Final Campaign Rounds, Millions Vote Early
ShareDemocratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris appeared on the “Saturday Night Live” TV comedy show on Saturday, adding a surprise jolt...
Katsina Scrap Dealers Launch Task Force to Combat Vandals
Share The Katsina State chapter of the National Association of Scrap and Waste Dealers, Employers of Nigeria, has inaugurated a...
Police Say at Criminal Responsibility Age, Individuals must be Answerable for Their Actions
Share The Nigeria Police Force says individuals who have attained the age of criminal responsibility must be answerable for their...
Bells Varsity Honours 91 Students with First Class at 16th Convocation
Share Bells University of Technology, Ota, Ogun, on Saturday awarded 91 students of the institution First Class (Honours) at its...
Lagos PDP will Find Bearing after State Congresses — Chieftain
Share A Chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State, Dr Adetokunbo Pearse, says the state chapter of...
Endbadgovernance protest: Suspects not in Custody of NCoS, -Says Spokesman
ShareThe Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) has said that suspects arrested during the #Endbadgovernance protest in August 2024 were not remanded...
FG Releases Funds for Payment of NASU, Retirees’ Entitlements
ShareThe Federal Government has released funds for payment of withheld salary of Non-Academic Staff Union of Federal Universities (NASU). Mr...
Troops Nab Wanted Terrorist, Habu Dogo, 7 IPOB/ESN Terrorists
Share The Defence Headquarters says the Nigerian troops have in the last one week apprehended a notorious terrorist leader, Abubakar...