The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has shunned the reconciliatory meeting called by the Federal Government.
The last-minute reconciliatory meeting was convened by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong.
The purpose of the meeting was to avert the two-day warning strike.
The NLC had declared a two-day warning strike to begin on Tuesday.
However, the Festus Osifo-led Trade Union Congress (TUC) was said to have shown up for the meeting.
Oando PLC has announced an agreement with ENI over the 100 per cent acquisition of Nigerian AGIP Oil Company Limited shares.
The company, Oando, disclosed this on Monday in a statement obtained by DAILY POST.
“Nigeria’s leading indigenous energy solutions provider listed on both the Nigerian Exchange Limited and Johannesburg Stock Exchange is pleased to announce that it has reached an agreement with Eni (“ENI”) (an integrated energy company actively supporting a just energy transition, to achieve Net-Zero carbon emissions by 2050 and promote efficient and sustainable access to energy for all), for the acquisition of 100 per cent of the shares of Nigerian Agip Oil Company Limited (NAOC Ltd).
Completion of the transaction is subject to Ministerial Consent and other required regulatory approvals”, the statement contained.
The implication is that the transaction has increased Oando’s current participating interests in OMLs 60, 61, 62, and 63 from 20 per cent to 40 per cent.
Also, it has increased Oando’s ownership stake in all NEPL/NAOC/OOL Joint Venture assets and infrastructure, which include forty discovered oil and gas fields, of which twenty-four are currently producing, approximately forty identified prospects and leads, twelve production stations, about 1,490 km of pipelines, three gas processing plants, the Brass River Oil Terminal, the Kwale-Okpai phases 1 & 2 power plants (with a total nameplate capacity of 960MW), and associated infrastructure.
By Biola Lawal
Abuja: (Flowerbudnews): The Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps, Dauda Ali Biu has warned motorists across the country against Overspeeding to prevent loss of lives and injury on the roads.
The Corps Marshal made call while reacting to a fatal road accident along Obajana- Lokoja road in Kogi state which claimed 12 lives, a statement by ACM Bisi Kazeem, the Corps Public Education Officer, disclosed.
The FRSC Boss called on fleet and other commercial vehicle operators, as well as private vehicle owners to avoid driving against stipulated speed limit on all roads. This is to eradicate all incidences of mishap resulting from speed violation on our roads, the statement added.
The caution came following a fatal crash that occured at line three, Obajana cement factory, on the Obajana-Lokoja expressway, in Kogi State on 3 September, 2023 at 2230HRS.
The dual crash involved a Toyota Hiace Bus with registration number MKA515ZD and a Sono Truck.
A total of 18 people were involved, all male adult. Out of this number, 06 people got injured, while 12 people were killed.
The main cause of the crash have been identified to be speed violation, which resulted to loss of control (Flowerbudnews)
The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola, says there is need for immediate rehabilitation of the critical infrastructure at the Apapa and Tincan Island ports
Oyetola said this during his maiden visit to the Tincan and Apapa Ports on Monday in Lagos.
The minister also urged terminal operators to support the Federal Government in the rehabilitation of the ports.
According to Oyetola, the rehabilitation of the port is going to be a collaboration between government and the terminal operators.
“My coming out today is to see things for myself. I have seen the challenges, the need to actually do a lot of things about our port.
“Infrastructure are almost collapsing from what I have seen, so a major rehabilitation has to be carried out.
“I am looking forward to the terminal managers beginning to contribute to the rehabilitation of the port.
“Its important and if they do that, they will make more money for themselves,” he said.
The minister pointed out that he was impressed with the management of the ports so far, adding that he would support them.
As regards the quay wall, he noted that he had asked NPA for a report of what they had carried out so far, adding that they need to know the numbers to be able to sort them out to get the president’s approval.
Oyetola said he believes that the blue economy is a sector that will generate revenue for government, adding that the country needs the infrastructure to balance up.
“If we have the right infrastructure in place, it will be a way of domestication of the economy.
“We rely so much on oil. So a lot of other opportunities have been untapped for so many years. I think we must commend the president for taking this initiative, I believe we can do it.
“To address the collapse of the port, there is need to rehabilitate the port as a matter of urgency, dredging has to continue,” he said.
The minister added that as regards access road, it would be looked into it and he would engage the Minsters of Works and Transportation to see what they could do together.
“I have discussed with the Minister of Transportation in respect of the rails. With all these things in place, I think we are good to go.
“On issues at the other ports like the eastern one, it will also be addressed. We are looking at the totality of the port,” he said.
On his part, Mr Mohammed Bello-Koko, Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) commended the minister for visiting the port and for supporting the agency.
He assured the minister of the agency’s support in line with the Federal Government’s agenda
The Court of Appeal Headquarters on Monday said the presidential tribunal judgement on the petitions before it would be aired live.
The court said this was to promote, transparency and openness and for Nigerians to watch.
The Chief Registrar, Court of Appeal HQ, Umar Bangari, stated this in a statement while disclosing the date for the judgment on the matter.
He said the date for the judgement had been fixed for September 6, 2023.
It read, “The Court of Appeal wishes to inform the General Public that judgment in the following petitions before the Presidential Election Petition Court will be delivered on Wednesday 6th September 2023: CA/PEPC/03/2023 between Mr. Peter Gregory Obi & Anor VS. Independent National Electoral Commission & 3 Ors.
CA/PEPC/04/2023 between Allied Peoples Movement VS. Independent National Electoral Commission & 4 Ors. CA/PEPC/05/2023 between Abubakar Atiku & Anor VS. Independent National Electoral Commission & 2 Ors. In a bid to promote transparency and openness, these judgments will be televised live by interested Television Stations for the public to follow.”
He also said only accredited persons, including counsel and representatives of political parties, would be granted access to the courtroom on judgment day.
“Access to the Court premises will be strictly on accreditation. Only accredited individuals, including Counsel and representatives of Political Parties, will be granted access to the courtroom. Interested members of the public are advised to watch proceedings from their television sets. We appeal for the maximum cooperation of the general public to ensure a hitch-free exercise, please,” the statement added.
By Biola Lawal
Lokoja (Flowerbudnews): The Police Authorities in Kogi has urged people of the state to disregard allegations of a Purported planned attack on Ajaka Supporters.
The Kogi Police Command described the alleged planned attack as ”fake, incendiary, perfidious and malicious”.
In a statement by the Command’s Spokesman, SP William Ovye Aya, the Police reassured the citizens of its commitment to providing level playing field for all politicians in the state.
The Police stated that ”the entire narrative to injure, assassinate and malign the hard-earned reputation and integrity of the Commissioner of Police is the height of insensitivity, callousness, self-serving and emblematic of desperation, vindictiveness, a Propensity for destructiveness and to salivate the insidious and vaulting Political ambition of a psychopath.”
The statement Stated:
The attention of the Kogi State Police Command has been drawn to a fake, incendiary, perfidious, malicious and misleading allegations making the rounds by one Faruk Adejoh-Audu, Director Communications Murtala Yakubu Ajaka Gubernatorial Campaign Organization to the effect that, the Commissioner of Police Bethrand Onuoha plans attack on Ajaka Supporters in Kogi LGA.
The Command wishes to emphatically and categorically state that, the statement is not only the figment of the imagination of Faruk Adejoh-Audu and his Political Candidate Yakubu Ajaka who has mastered the art of Political gimmickry and brigandage, but totally false, malicious, pretentious, and highly mischievous.
The Commissioner of Police who upon assumption of duty one month ago has so far demonstrated a high level of professionalism by providing a level playing ground for all Political Parties and their Candidates to operate in the State should not be dragged into Politics.
3. The SDP Candidate and his Campaign Organization should leave the Police alone and focus on issues-based Campaigns and soliciting for support from the electorate instead of resorting to cheap blackmail, bullying and arm-twisting for Political sympathy from the public who already know their tricks, gimmicks and antecedents.
The entire narrative to injure, assassinate and malign the hard-earned reputation and integrity of the Commissioner of Police is the height of insensitivity, callousness, self-serving and emblematic of desperation, vindictiveness, a Propensity for destructiveness and to salivate the insidious and vaulting Political ambition of a psychopath.
4. It would be recalled that, on 3rd June, 2023 along Abuja-Lokoja road, the SDP Candidate Murtala Yakubu Ajaka and his supporters blocked and attacked the Convoy of the Executive Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello at Banda some kilometers away from Lokoja.
During the attack, some of the Governor’s aides sustained varying degrees of injuries. All efforts, invitations and entreaties to come and give his own side of the incident has come to nought.
Yet he has been moving around the nooks and crannies of the State without any molestation even when he has no immunity. The case is still under Investigation.
5. In a democracy, freedom of expression is a right, but it must be accompanied by responsibility, not to hide under it’s guise to spin out lies, falsehood, innuendos and sensationalism.
It shows the writer and his sponsors have no decorum, decency, intellect, and are oblivious of the legal consequences of deformation and assassination of character.
6. The Commissioner of Police hereby appeals to Murtala Yakubu Ajaka and his Campaign Organization to leave him alone, stop all the negative write-ups and frivolous allegations aimed at under-mining the spirited crime-fighting efforts of the Police in Kogi State and whipping up sentiment against them and heating up the State for no just cause.
7. And to the good and peace loving, highly enlightened, Politically sophisticated citizens of Kogi State, the Commissioner of Police urges you all to disregard and discountenance such mischievous and malicious information, and to be wary of being hoodwinked by Merchants of violence, but instead gravitate towards issues that unite the State rather than those that divide you, please,” (Flowerbudnews)
By Thompson Yamput
Lokoja: Dr Allen Onyema, Air Peace Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Oba Dr Moshood Olalekan-Balogun, Olubadan of Ibadan and others have been nominated for the prestigious Afro Awards 2023 for their humanitarian services.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Annual Afro Awards is a. non-profit event that honors outstanding individuals and organizations for their significant contributions across various fields, with the aim of establishing a unique Afro-centric excellence award.
This is contained in a statement issued on Monday by Mr Taiwo Oduala, Founder and Executive Producer of `The Afro Awards’.
He said that Onyema and Olalekan-Balogun are among numerous Africans and Americans to be honoured at the Afro Award 2023 billed for Sept. 16 in Los Angeles, California.
Oduala, who is a Film Director, based in U.S., said, “the awardees are among Africans and Americans, who have not only distinguished themselves in various fields of endeavours, but have touched lives and transformed economies of nations.”
“People like Ifechukwu-Onyema of Air Peace Airline, have made impact in the lives of many with his free evacuation philosophy just as the Olubadan of Ibadan, who have distinguished himself as Royal Father.
“Nigeria, as a nation, has produced men and women of high degree of patriotism and impact, both in and outside the country.
“Also, there is Monica Swaida, known as Monicazation, a Nigerian/American singer, actress, movie producer and CEO of an insurance company,’’ he said.
According to him, Air Peace Airline has painstakingly evacuated Nigerians from South Africa during the Xenophobia, Sudan and China besides Indians and Chinese evacuated from Nigeria back to their countries.
He explained that the main focus of the award was to demonstrate Afro Awards’ recognition and support to people, who have shown exceptional humanitarian excellence in various fields and endeavours.
The film director said that since inception, the Afro Awards has hosted and honored more than 5,000 individuals at the core front of humanitarianism and philanthropy in American and African communities.
He further disclosed that some of 2023 Awardees to include Mayor of Los Angeles, Karen Bass, and an American hip hop iconic/legend, Calvin Cordozar-Broadus Jr, also known as Snoop Dogg.
Also to be honoured are Africa Magic TV Network (Multichoice Nigeria Limited), Chief Diran Alabi
(Agic Energy North America/ TAG The Agic Group Holdings),Ose Oyamendan (Founder/CEO Nollywood in Hollywood) and Innocent Ekakitie (Nigerian/American kid star actor).
Others are Yung Muusik (Recording artiste /Singer/ Song writer /Model/Actor, Danielle Crawley (Casting Director), ISO Kenny (Artiste/ Song writer/ Perfomer), 19 Keys (Community Activist/ Global Though Leader and Tarek Stevenson, Entertainment Executive/ Influencer Oscar Brunch among others.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Afro Awards 2023 is the 2nd edition with the 1st successfully held last September with Gov Ademola Adeleke, Davido and the First Lady of Sierra Leone, Mrs Fatima Maada among others were awarded.
The event, which will be held at Prestigious Directors Guild of America (DGA), 7920 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90046, U. S. will kick-start with a twi-day Pre-event.
While Afro Awards Conference Experience would on Sept. 14, Afro Awards Fashion Show and Gala Night would be on Sept. 15.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng) / Flowerbudnews
The Lagos State Government has commenced commercial operation of the Blue Line Rail Mass
According to a live broadcast by Channels Television monitored by DAILY POST on Monday, the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, is taking an inaugural ride from Marina to Mile-2.
Transit years after it was first conceived in 1983.
Recall that former President Muhammadu Buhari commissioned the first phase of the train station in Lagos in January.
The first phase extends from Marina to Mile 2 and is 13 kilometres.
The 27km rail line will transport about 500,000 passengers daily.
The first phase has five stations — Marina, National Theatre, Iganmu, Alaba and Orile station.
The full trip from Marina to Mile 2 will cost N750, while zonal fares — for passengers who are not making a full trip — will be between N400 and N500.
The Blue Line Rail Project was proposed in 1983 during the administration of the former Governor of Lagos State, the Late Alhaji Lateef Jakande.
The rail network was flagged off 20 years later, during the administration of Bola Tinubu in 2003.
By Paul Ejime
Following the tension generated by the threat of military intervention and the stand-off between the Niger junta and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the statement by Nigeria’s President and ECOWAS Chairman Ahmed Bola Tinubu on Thursday in Abuja, appears to indicate a positive movement and compromise on how to restore constitutional order in Niger.
“…General Abdulsalami Abubakar (a Nigerian former military Head of State) instituted a nine-month transition programme in 1998, and it proved very successful, leading the country into a new era of democratic governance,” Tinubu told a delegation of Islamic leaders, adding: that he “…sees no reason why such cannot be replicated in Niger, if Niger’s military authorities are sincere.”
The Brig.-Gen. Abdourahamane Tchiani-led Niger junta, which toppled his former boss President Mohamed Bazoum, had announced a 36-month transition programme, which has been rejected by ECOWAS.
President Tinubu’s statement is an indication that ECOWAS is open to negotiation for a shorter transition timetable, while keeping the military intervention option open.
Tchiani and his colleagues should, therefore, seize the opportunity and agree a negotiated and more acceptable timetable of say 9-18 months.
This is enough time to organise a credible election, under an ECOWAS-led support and guidance by the international community.
However, the involvement of external powerful interests, particularly France and the U.S. has complicated matters in Niger.
In fact, the latest Niger coup (the country has experienced several since independence from France in 1960), has further exposed the hypocrisy, inconsistency, double standards, if not perfidy of the West in its relations with Africa.
Scholars and commentors who argue that after more than six decades of independence, African countries should stop citing slavery and colonialism as excuses for the continent’s backwardness or underdevelopment do have a point given the level of corruption, resource mismanagement and governance failures under the watch of post-independent African leaders.
Even so, imperialism and neocolonialism still constitute a dangerous clog in Africa’s wheel of progress and development.
The Niger coup was the seventh successful one in four former French colonies in West Africa in three years with two each in Mali and Burkina Faso, and one each in Mali, Guinea, and Niger.
These are all member States of the 15-nation regional bloc, ECOWAS.
Before the 2020 coup in Mali, all ECOWAS members operated one form of civilian administration or another.
International reactions to the coups in Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso followed a familiar pattern – condemnation, suspension of membership from ECOWAS and the African Union, imposition of sanctions and then negotiated political transition programmes, which are being implemented by the juntas.
In neighbouring Chad, another former French colony, which is in Central Africa and not a member of ECOWAS, international reaction to the unconstitutional change of government there, is markedly different.
In April 2021, the President of Chad, Idris Derby Ito, was assassinated by Chadian rebels and against the provisions of the country’s constitution, his son, army General Mahamat Kaka seized power, in a manner many described as a coup.
Surprisingly, French President Emmanuel Macron was one of the few dignitaries that graced the inauguration ceremony of Mahamat Derby to succeed his father.
In contrast, France has been among the most vociferous in condemning the coups in Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso and Niger, but not in Chad, perhaps because the principles of democracy do not matter in Chad.
Relations between France and the Mali junta have deteriorated so badly that the French Ambassador and French troops have been expelled from Mali, with the expelled troops moved to Niger.
Then fast forward to the coup in Niger and the unusual outrage and reactions by Washington and Paris.
As expected, France is worried that it is losing grounds in its former colonies in Africa, where anti-French sentiments are openly expressed accompanied by sporadic street protests.
Similarly, the U.S. and its Western allies fear that Russia, China, and other emerging interests would move in once they are kicked out of the coup countries.
Furthermore, the palpable diplomatic frenzy in the French and American capitals, is a demonstration that Niger is unlike Mali, Guinea, and Burkina Faso.
America and France have military bases and along with other Western allies, maintain an estimated combined troop strength of 3,000 in Niger.
Niger is also rich in uranium, craved by nuclear power countries such as France, which sources more than 50% of its electricity power from the Niger uranium mines, while more than 80% of Nigeriens remain in darkness, and mining host communities, suffering health hazards from radiation.
In the estimation of France, America and their Western Allies, Niger is of strategic importance, but the interests/wellbeing of Niger’s estimated 26 million poverty-stricken and long-suffering people do not matter in the geopolitical equation.
The American constitution frowns at any relations with coup-produced regimes, so Washington is still undecided whether the Niger army takeover is “a coup” or “an attempted coup,” but America’s newly appointed ambassador, arrived in Niger recently amid growing tension over possible use of military force to restore constitutional order in the country.
Relations between Niger and France have taken a turn for the worse with the junta expelling the French Ambassador and demanding the departure of French troops from Niger.
President Macron has rejected the junta’s demand, insisting that the French ambassador should stay put because the junta lacks legitimacy.
This has raised tension and made Niger a dilemma for ECOWAS, with its new management at the Commission determined to arrest the drift and leadership failure of the past decade, when the organisation ignored or tolerated “constitutional, ballot box, human rights and anti-rule of law coups” without consequences.
Some ECOWAS leaders blatantly altered national constitutions and rigged elections to obtain or retain power while clamping down on the opposition and protesters against their undemocratic behaviours.
ECOWAS has intervened militarily in several member States in the past including in Liberia, Sierra Leone, the Gambia, and Guinea Bissau, under various protocols and instrumentalities acceded to by the member States.
But Niger now presents a unique challenge with the ECOWAS response, especially the possible use of force being subjected to various interpretations.
ECOWAS officials insist the regional bloc is acting independently, but critics say it is being teleguided or stampeded into a proxy war in Niger by Western powers.
The popular opinion in Africa is that America, France, and their Western allies, should leave Africa out of their geopolitical battles with Russia and China.
The military coups in former French colonies could be related to opportunism on the part of the coup makers, but the discontent and disaffection towards France among citizens of these countries cannot be ignored.
Former French colonies such as Cameroon, Togo, Rwanda, Burundi and Gabon have either applied or have been granted membership of the British-led Commonwealth Organisation.
Cameroon’s President Paul Biya, a long-time ally of France, was conspicuous in his presence at the second Africa-Russia summit in St Petersburg last July.
The policies of foreign countries, particularly France toward Africa are unravelling and require recalibration to ensure mutual respect, based on equal partnership, justice, equity and fair play instead of a master-servant relationship.
The jury is still out on the success or otherwise of the presence of external forces purportedly fighting terrorism in West Africa and the Sahel region.
The idea of military bases in African countries should also be reviewed to ensure that they are not inimical to the interests of the host countries.
Anti-French protests on the streets of West African countries may have been instigated by the juntas, but the truth is that the citizens are fed up with decades of unbeneficial policies and toxic relationships that have kept Africa behind.
French President Macron’s bellicose, condescending, and patronising stance and comments such as insisting that the French ambassador in another sovereign nation, who has been expelled and stripped of diplomatic immunity must stay put, are not helping the ECOWAS course either.
It is the neighbouring countries, and not France, that will bear the heaviest burden of a military intervention in Niger, with the attendant humanitarian disaster and other unpredictable consequences of instability in West Africa and the Sahel region. (Flowerbudnews)
*Paul Ejime is a Global Affairs Analyst and Consultant on Peace & Security and Governance Communications