NEWS
IPMAN Tasks Filling Stations on Proactive Fire Safety Measures

From Sylvia Udegbunam, Enugu
The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has tasked filling station outlets on proactive fire safety measures meant to safeguard their premises from fire outbreaks and avoidable losses.
The Chairman of IPMAN, Enugu Depot Unit, Chinedu Anyaso gave the task on Sunday in Enugu while speaking on the need to check incidences of fire outbreaks in the oil and gas sector. Anyaso, whose association covers independent petroleum marketers in Anambra, Ebonyi and Enugu, said that his unit had mandated each petroleum product outlet to have ready-to-use fire extinguishers and buckets of sands before commencement of operation each day. He said that each filling station “must also have a sticker indicating No Phone Calls, Please” and phone number or phone code of the nearest firefighting/service station. “We are also partnering with the Federal Fire Service to have a seminar to educate our members and their filling stations’ attendants on how to use and handle fire extinguishers. “They will also learn how to ensure that the content of the fire extinguishers do not leak off from its containers due to poor handling and storage as well as know when a fire extinguisher expires. “Our members will also be exposed to other things necessary to have and know to ensure that one is alert on any possible incident of fire within a filling station. “For now, we only recorded a fire incident in one of the filling station outlets in the remote area in the state and it was caused by answering a phone call close to a pump nozzle dispensing fuel in a filling station in January, 2025,” he said.According to him, that incident was regrettable: and members are clearly aware that incidents of fire in any filling station outlet leads to huge losses and it is not what anyone will wish to happen.The chairman also called on its members to be sensitive about the atmospheric temperature before offloading products from petroleum trucks/tankers especially during extreme hot weathers. “It should be dispensed in the morning hours or it should wait in the evening hours when the intensity of the sun and hot weather reduces,” he added.Apart from covering independent petroleum marketers in Enugu, Anambra and Ebonyi; the IPMAN Enugu Depot Unit also comprises independent petroleum marketers in some parts of Abia, Imo, Kogi and Cross River StatesNEWS
Gunmen Kill 11 Persons in Plateau

The police command in Plateau says gunmen have attacked Rubi community in Butura District in Bokkos Local Government and killed 11 persons.
Mr Alfred Alabo, the command’s spokesman made this known in a statement on Friday in Jos.
The Bokkos Cultural Development Council (BCDC),also in a statement, confirmed that 11 persons were killed.
Alabo quoted Mr Emmanuel Adesina, the Commissioner of Police in the state, who visited the scene, as condemning the attack.
“On March 27, at about 10:00 p.m., we received a report of some gunmen who invaded Ruwi village at about 09:20 p.m. and began to shoot sporadically.
“As a result, some law-abiding citizens of the community who were at a wake-keep unfortunately lost their lives.
“Many others secured varying degrees of injuries.
“Immediately, the Commissioner of Police directed the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Bokkos to mobilise to the scene for necessary action,”he said.
To have first hand information on situation, Alabo said that the commissioner visited the scene and commiserated with those who lost their loves ones.
Similarly, the Plateau government had condemned the incident and called on security agencies to fish out the perpetrators.
Mrs Joyce Ramnap, the state Commissioner for Information, called on residents of the community not to take the law into their hands.Ramnap reiterated the state government’s commitment to security of lives and property of all citizens of the state.(NAN)
NEWS
Tinubu Moves to Strengthen River Basin Authorities, Approves new Appointments

President Bola Tinubu has approved new appointments to strengthen the leadership of River Basin Development Authorities under the Federal Ministry of Water Resources.
At the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority, Abeokuta, Mr Sowade Adebayo will replace Mr Julius Oloro as the Executive Director of Engineering Services, Mr Bayo Onanuga, the President’s spokesman, said in a statement on Friday.
At the Niger Delta River Basin Development Authority, Mr Chucks Erhire steps into the role of Executive Director of Engineering Services, succeeding Dr Austin Izagbo.
The president also appointed Mr Sunday Hassan as the Executive Director of Planning at the Lower Benue River Basin Development Authority, replacing Mr Chris Tarka.
Mr Okibe Timothy retains his current position as the Executive Director of Engineering at the Lower Benue River Basin Development Authority.
The president urged the appointees to uphold the highest standards of integrity and performance as they work to improve water management and rural development for the benefit of all Nigerians.(NAN)
NEWS
Stanbic IBTC Holdings to Pay Shareholders N38.87 bn as Dividend in 2024

Stanbic IBTC Holdings has announced plans to pay N38.87 billion in dividends to its shareholders for the financial year ended Dec.
31, 2024.This is a 36.3 per cent surge from N28.505 billion paid to its shareholders in 2023.
The company disclosed this in a corporate disclosure through the Nigerian Exchange Ltd.
, on Friday.The disclosure reads “A Final Dividend of N3.
00 per ordinary share of 50 kobo each, that is N38,870,991,489.00“Subject to deduction of appropriate withholding tax and approval will be paid to shareholders whose names appear in the Register of members at the close of business on Friday 11 April 2025.
“This is in addition to the Interim Dividend of N2.
00 paid in September 2024, thus bringing the total of 2024 dividend to N5.00.“The Register of Shareholders will be closed from Monday 14 April to Friday 18 April 2025.
“On Friday May 16, 2025, dividends will be paid electronically to shareholders whose names appear on the register as at the close of business on Friday April 11,
2025.
“It will be paid to those who have completed the e-dividend registration and mandated the Registrar to pay their dividends directly into their Bank accounts,” it said (NAN)