Author: Lawal AbdulSalam Olawale

President Bola Tinubu has warned the Board of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) that non-performance will not be tolerated.

The President, who inaugurated the Board of the NNPCL at the State House on Monday, also warned that conduct suggesting a sense of entitlement will not be tolerated.

 

According to a statement by presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, the President said the Board could be dissolved without prior notice to members over non-performance.

 

“You could be suddenly dissolved if there is no sustained excellence in performance,’’ Tinubu warned.

 

He also said corporate social responsibility for the Niger Delta must be taken seriously, considering the devastating effects of oil exploration and exploitation on the environment.

 

Niger Delta must be seen as the goose that lays the golden egg, and we must treat that region with the deserved respect and care. It is not asking for too much to ensure quality and constant water supply, schools, medical facilities, and roads.

 

“It is not about us. It is about the well-being of the entire country and the lifeblood of the nation. We should care more about the environment. We will do more for security to minimize stealing and vandalisation,’’ he stated.

 

The President directed that more attention should be given to gas as Nigeria transitions to cleaner energy, adding, “We need to show that we are committed to the welfare of our country.”

 

“Take a look at the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), and know what the pitfalls are. The Cabinet members and Board should decide what we can do differently for production increase, profitability, and governance. It is in your hands. I will work with you,’’ he said.

 

In his remarks, the Chairman of the Board, Pius Akinyelure, commended the President for the removal of petrol subsidy, noting that the nation would have drowned in debt, but for his decisiveness.

The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Christopher Gwabim Musa, has said that members of the armed forces are not immune from the drug abuse menace currently being fought by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, saying, “Now we have introduced as part of our recruitment processes, and for our people to go for courses, they must take drug tests, because this will ensure that personnel of the Armed Forces are doing the right thing and are in the right frame of mind.”

 

 

The CDS, who made the disclosure when he visited the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig Gen Mohammed Buba Marwa, at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja, promised that the Nigerian military would strengthen its synergy with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, to curtail the menace of substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking in the country.

 

In his remarks, Marwa commended the Nigerian Armed Forces, under the leadership of Gen. CG Musa, for their loyalty, sacrifices, and hard work to keep the country safe.

 

He also thanked the military for supporting the agency in terms of logistics and training, emphasizing the significance of the partnership between the military and the NDLEA.

 

Emphasizing that substance abuse is at the root of crimes and criminalities across the country, Marwa said, “The criminal elements rely on drugs to carry out their criminalities, and that is why we have been very ferocious in our offensive action against them to cut access and availability of these illicit drugs.

 

“As a result, in about three years, we have arrested 42,105 drug offenders, including 46 barons; seized 7,500 tons of drugs; destroyed 1,057 hectares of cannabis farms; and convicted 8,350 offenders, while 29,400 drug users have been counselled and rehabilitated within the same period.

 

He therefore urged the armed forces to consider constructing a central rehabilitation centre and creating rehab facilities in existing military hospitals to attend to the treatment of their personnel who may have issues with substance abuse.

 

Earlier, the CDS commended Gen Marwa and his management team for the great turnaround on the drug war, which has positively changed the negative perception of Nigeria in the international community.

He assured NDLEA of the continued support of the armed forces in its renewed fight against substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking. He said the agency’s efforts have motivated the military to introduce drug tests as a require.

 

He assured NDLEA of the continued support of the armed forces in its renewed fight against substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking. He said the agency’s efforts have motivated the military to introduce drug tests as a requir

 

He said the nexus between drug abuse and insecurity cannot be over-emphasized, adding that if the nation were able to curb the scourge of substance abuse, the current security challenges would have been drastically reduced.

 

He also said the menace must be tackled holistically while promising to consider the suggestion by the NDLEA boss for the military to have its own central rehabilitation centre.

 

His words: “We know the challenges of drugs and how the use of illicit drugs has affected Nigeria’s name. And when Nigeria is mentioned abroad, everybody thinks about drugs, but you and your team have turned that around; at least now, people have seen that sense of sincerity in addressing the drug issue in Nigeria.

 

“We know it is not easy because a lot of people have benefited so much from it, and they will do anything to sustain their illicit businesses.ement for training and promotion in the armed forces.

 

“I want to assure you that the members of Nigerian Armed Forces are fully behind you. We are proud of you and what you have been achieving, and we will continue to support you until the menace of drugs is totally eliminated in the country.

 

“We know the influence of drug use and what it has done to us, creating a lot of issues all over the country, which is very alarming.

 

“Drug use has slipped into so many places, and for members of the Armed Forces, we’re not excluded.

 

Now we have introduced as part of our recruitment processes, and for our people to go for courses, they must take drug tests, because this will ensure that personnel of the Armed Forces are doing the right thing and are in the right frame of mind. So, we’ll continue to do that and continue to intensify our efforts.

 

“We have seen the number of arrests being made and how the world over now has seen that Nigeria is taking positive measures to address this drug issue; this, I think, is highly commendable.

 

Theatre commanders in the North East have seen the effects of drugs. Ideally, some people will not even be able to carry a knife; when they take drugs, they carry a GPMG.

 

“So, this tells you what drugs do: it gives you a lot of fake confidence, and with usage over time, they become addicted, and when they become addicted, it becomes dangerous to them, and they become a danger to everyone close to them.”

Egbin said the maintenance crew is carrying out scheduled maintenance on its Keffi/Akwanga 132KV transmission line. The exercise is to enable them to replace broken 132kV Insulators.

Power supply dropped to 3,636MW following the shutdown of Egbin Power Plant and challenges in the transmission network.

loss of 676MW from Egbin, Nigeria’s biggest power plant, at 10 am on Monday, dropped grid supply from 4,416MW to 3,632MW.

 

A statement by the generation company posted on its verified X account (formerly Twitter) said the showdown was to allow Nigerian Gas Company to maintain the pipeline bringing gas into the plant.

 

The plant stated: “This is to notify the public that as at 11:13 hours of 18 December 2023, Egbin Power generating station was shut down to allow the Nigeria Gas Company (NGC) to maintain a linking gas pipeline supplying gas to Egbin Power Station.

 

“The station will be shut down for 3 days from today.

This means a reduction of 676MW of bulk power generated into the nation’s grid for 3 days and consequently the quantum of bulk power available to be delivered to distribution companies load centres nationwide for the period”.

 

From the transmission end, a series of incidents recorded in Lagos and Nasarawa states in the past three days have reduced the wheeling capacity of the Transmission Company of Nigeria.

 

The company in a statement by the General Manager, Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah said TCN stated that “its maintenance crew is carrying out scheduled maintenance on its Keffi/Akwanga 132KV transmission line. The exercise is to enable them to replace broken 132kV Insulators.

 

“The maintenance commenced today, Monday,18th December, 2023, by 8.30 am to 5:30 pm for eight hours

 

Keffi/Akwanga and its environs will be affected. Supply will be restored today”

 

TCN had 24 hours earlier reported that at “about 7:57 pm on Saturday, 16th December 2023, there was a fire incident, following an explosion of capacitor voltage transformer on the Maryland-lkorodu 132/33kV transmission line 2.

 

“This necessitated the emergency opening of the substation at 7 58pm, which entailed the isolation of Maryland-llupeju 132kV line 1, which was the source of power supply to the substation”.

 

Mbah added that “efforts were made to extinguish the fire but due to the presence of oil-immersed equipment within the surrounding area of the explosion it was difficult until the Lagos State Fire Service arrived at 8:45 pm and put out the fire completely at 8:55 pm. At 9:02 p.m., the same day, the substation was restored back into service.

 

TCN said it was “diligently pursuing the reconductoring/rehabilitating of all its 132kV transmission lines and switchgears nationwide, which would greatly help eliminate such incidents”.

The Kogi State Government has arrested 10 miners operating illegally in Ankpa Local Government Area.

The Kogi State Commissioner for Solid Minerals and Natural Resources, Bashiru Gegu, disclosed this on Monday evening in Ankpa when his ministry, in collaboration with the Kogi State Special Task Force on Illegal Smuggling of Firearms and Other Related Crimes, began the enforcement of Governor Yahaya Bello’s directive against illegal mining across the state.

 

Gegu, who noted that Operation Stop Illegal Mining in Kogi State is on course, said government has confiscated over 50 trucks carrying coal illegally, with the support of the Nigeria Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Department of State Services, DSS, and local vigilantes.

Gegu said: “We must implement the Federal Government policy and help in revenue generation. Over the years, we have asked miners in the state, approved by the Federal Government, to register with the Ministry of Solid Minerals and Natural Resources. This has, however, fallen on deaf ears, with people brazenly destroying our communities. Illegal mining is totally prohibited in Kogi State.”

 

The commissioner warned all illegal mining companies and individuals to stop forthwith, as the long arm of the law is set to catch up with them.

 

He reiterated that anyone found wanting would be prosecuted.

Also speaking, the Director General, Kogi State Special Task Force on illegal Smuggling of Fire Arms and other related Crimes, Elder Friday Sani Makama, said it will no longer be business as usual, adding that the present administration will leave no stone unturned in arresting and prosecuting any individual caught engaging in illegal mining in Kogi State.

 

“Some individuals are milking the state of its natural resources. That is why, Governor Yahaya Bello, who wants the best for the people of Kogi State, said it was time to put a stop to illegal mining in Kogi.

 

“Our operation here is very simple. All miners in Kogi State must operate within the ambit of the law. And my duty here is to ensure the enforcement of the directive given by Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State,” he said

 

The Ondo state government has denied freezing the accounts of all the local government and the Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the state, and sacking of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu’s Chief of Protocol, describing the reports as not only false but also misleading.

 

This was contained in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation in the state, Mrs. Bamidele Ademola-Olateju, who said there was never a time the Acting governor, Hon. Lucky Ayedatiwa or any government functionary issue such a directive, saying the news of the sack the governor’s CoP is designed to embarrass the state government.

According to Ademola-Olateju, the information is fake and baseless and called on the people of the state, especially the local government officials to disregard it

 

The Information Commissioner also clarified the misrepresentation of facts on the preparation of the Acting Governor’s engagement, saying the Chief of Protocol (CoP) to the Governor, Mr. Bola Alabi, has not been sacked or placed on suspension.

 

Ademola-Olateju maintained that the Chief of Protocol was not placed on suspension saying that the report was mischievously reported, urging the public to ignore the said report.

Ademola-Olateju’s statement read: “The news going round some old and new media platforms that the Acting Governor, Honourable Lucky Orimisan Ayedatiwa has put a freeze on local government accounts in the state is false and misleading.

“At no time has the Acting Governor or any functionary of the state put a freeze on local government accounts or order any closure.

 

“This information is fake and baseless. We ask that the good people of Ondo State, particularly officials of local governments to disregard the rumour.

 

“Necessary complimentary personnel/civil servants have been deployed to the LCDA(s) and they have been advised to exercise due diligence and processes in their operations by the Government”

 

She said “The State Government is committed to the proper functioning of the new thirty-three LCDA(s) and the existing 18 Local Government Area in the state as a way of enhancing development at the grassroots.

Government is aware of a suit filed by the opposition party before the State High Court, and we are hopeful that contending issues before the Court will be decided shortly.

 

‘While a date has been fixed for the conduct of Local Government election in the State, the Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission (ODIEC) has started working on the delineation of a minimum of five Councillorship Electoral Wards in each of the LCDA(s).

 

“Delineation of these electoral Wards by ODIEC is part of the transition guidelines provided for in the Government White Paper for transiting from 18 LGA(s) to 51 LGA(s)/LCDA(s) in the state. Government is committed to a smooth transition that will usher a democratic Elected Local Government Area in Ondo State”

 

She stated further “Also, our attention has been drawn to the social media misrepresentation of our Circular Letter No. FAD/DG.156/98 of 14th December 2023 in respect of the Preparation of the Acting Governor’s Engagement, which has been mischievously reported to the effect that the Chief of Protocol (CoP) to the Governor, Mr. Bola Alabi, has been placed on suspension.

 

“Nothing could be farther from the truth. The Chief of Protocol to Mr Governor has not been placed on suspension by the Ag. Governor nor by any person.

 

“It should be noted that the schedule for the preparation of Mr. Governor’s Engagements is less than two per cent of the CoP’s responsibilities.

 

“Usually, suspension from duty would have warranted removal of salary and privileges, which does not happen in this case. As we speak, Mr. Bola Alabi is busy with Mr. Governor”

 

“Nevertheless, His Excellency, the Ag. Governor, Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa is prepared, where necessary, to make changes that would guarantee the effective running of the administration.

 

“Again, the public is implored to always confirm the veracity of every piece of information/news in respect of the Ondo State Government from appropriate quarters before dissemination” She said.

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The Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, has debunked reports making the rounds indicating a purported nationwide strike scheduled to commence on Monday, December 18.

A statement issued and made available to DAILY POST on Sunday by the NLC’s Head of Information and Public Affairs, Beson Upah said the notice circulating on social media was fake.

 

He called on Nigerians to disregard the notice, stressing that there was no intention to embark on any strike action.

The statement reads, “It has been brought to our attention a notice of a strike action (purportedly signed by the General Secretary of NLC and Secretary General of TUC, Comrades Emmanuel Ugboaja and Nuhu Toro, respectively) to commence tomorrow, Monday, December 18 across the country.

 

“We want to re-assure Nigerians that this notice did not emanate from us, and neither do we have any intention of initiating any strike action this period.

 

“Accordingly, concerned Nigerians are advised to ignore this notice. It is fake”.

The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has approved N35,000 wage award for the state public servants.

 

This was just as he also approved the payment of 50% of basic salary as an end-of-year bonus for all political appointees and public servants, employees of local governments and local council development areas, Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board and the Lagos Neighborhood Safety Corps.

 

The approval was contained in a circular obtained by PUNCH Online, signed by the Lagos State Head of Service, Bode Agoro, with reference number CIR/HOS/’23/Vol. 1/ 109.

 

The circular titled ‘2023 End Of Year Bonus And Implementation Of Wage Awards’, stated that the governor approved the payments as part of his administration’s appreciation of public servants’ contribution towards the progress of the state, as well as his commitment to their welfare.

 

The statement further noted that the end-of-year bonus and the wage award which would be paid alongside December 2023 salary, would be non-taxable.

The statement reads, “As part of the present administration’s continuous appreciation of the contributions of all public servants towards the advancement of the state and its unrelenting commitment to the welfare of its workforce, it is hereby notified for general information that Mr. Governor has graciously approved the payment of 50% of basic salary as end-of-year bonus for all political appointees and public servants, including employees of local governments and local council development areas, Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board and Lagos Neighborhood Safety Corps.

 

“In the same vein, Mr. Governor has further approved the implementation of the wage award (palliative) pending the review of the national minimum wage.

 

Therefore, the 50% of basic salary as an end-of-year Bonus, as well as the wage award palliative), will be paid alongside the December 2023 salary as a “non-taxable element”.

 

“Sequel to the foregoing, public servants are implored to continually strive for excellence in providing qualitative service delivery to the people of the State in line with Mr Governor’s THEMES+ Agenda.

 

“Accordingly, all heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies are hereby enjoined to note the content of this circular and give it the service-wide publicity it deserves.”