Dangote Refinery: Africa’s Biggest Refinery Takes Shape
The completion of Dangote Refinery in 2019 will mark another milestone in the Nigerian oil and gas industry as the $11 billion refinery hold the prospect of stopping of refined petroleum products by Nigeria.
The Dangote Refinery will produce 650,000 barrels per day of refined petroleum products to meet all the country’s refined petroleum products needs as well as export to other countries.
Nigeria spent N2.59 trillion to import refined petroleum products in 2016, according to the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics. founder of Dangote Group of Companies and the richest man in Africa.
Dangote, the promoter, said that the refinery projects were primarily meant to diversify the resource base of Nigeria.
“This is the biggest industrial site anywhere in the world from the fertiliser, petrochemical and refinery plants. The Dangote Refinery will produce 650,000 barrels per day of refined petroleum products to meet all the country’s refined petroleum products needs as well as export to other countries.
The refinery is being built by Alhaji Aliko Dangote, founder of Dangote Group of Companies and the richest man in Africa.
“Our refinery will be 1.5 times the capacity of all the existing four refineries in the country even if they are working at 100 per cent capacity.
“This is the single largest refinery in the world. The petrochemical that we have is 13 times bigger than the Eleme Petrochemical built by government,” Dangote said.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo described the project as an incredible industrial undertaking, the largest and most ambitious on the continent.
The Dangote Refinery is an integrated petro chemical complex. Apart from refining crude oil to petroleum products, it will also have petrochemical and fertiliser plants.
Mansur Ahmed, an Executive Director in Dangote Group, said that the petrochemical plant would process 1.3 million metric tonnes per annum of petrochemical products.
The fertiliser plant will produce 2.8 million metric tonnes of assorted fertiliser, while the gas plant will produce three million cubic metres of gas per annum.
The refinery will also have the largest sub-sea pipeline infrastructure in the world with capacity to handle three billion cubic metres of oil annually.
The project is located in Lekki Free Trade Zone on a vast land mass of 2,200 hectares, an area eight times bigger than the entire Victoria Island in Lagos.
According to Mansur, the first phase of the plant will be ready by the end of 2017, the second phase by the end of 2018, while the third and the commencement of the refinery will be in 2019.
It is regrettable that Nigeria with large crude oil reserves and being the largest crude oil producer and exporter in Africa and eighth in the world, still imports more than 80 per cent of its petroleum products needs.
The country often experienced fuel shortages due to the poor state of its refineries. All the three refineries, operated by NNPC, are producing far below their installed capacity.
The Port Harcourt Refinery has capacity to produce 10.500 million mt/y (metric tonnes per year) of refined products, but it is producing at less than 20 per cent of this capacity.
The Kaduna Refinery, built in 1980, has capacity to produce 5.5 million mt/y (110,000 b/d), while Warri Refinery, built in 1978, has capacity to produce 6.2 million mt/y (125,000b/d) of refined products.
It is, therefore, good news that Nigeria will now host one of the largest refineries in the world after the Jamnagar Refinery in Gujarat, India which is the, largest refinery in the world and produces 1,240,000 barrels per day.
The Dangote Refinery will be the biggest in Africa taking over from the South Africa’s Sapref Refinery producing 180,000 barrels per day and Cairo’s Mostorod Refinery with a capacity of 142,000 barrels per day.
Dangote has already provided $7 billion in equity out the $14 billion estimated total cost of the project.
Some Nigerian banks provided a syndicated loan of $3.3 billion for the project.
The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has also promised to assist the Dangote Group to access foreign exchange and funding for the project.
Dr Okey Oramah, its President, gave the assurance during a tour of the project with the bank’s board members in 2016.
Oramah said that the board members decided to visit Dangote group to assess the project for possible financial assistance.
He said that Dangote Group was making tremendous impact across the continent which included Tanzania, The Gambia, Zambia, Niger and other parts of Africa.
“We are supporting them in what they are doing in those countries, so we are equally supporting them in this ongoing project, so it is important for the Board of Directors of Afreximbank to pay a courtesy visit to the site.
“It is important to come and see firsthand the project that is ongoing because we are also planning to support them to ensure the project is delivered on scheduled.
“We are looking at providing all necessary support both financial and otherwise to ensure that the project is completed within the time frame.
“We are also looking at providing support widow for Dangote group that will be used to fund its projects to completion.
“The impacts of the projects are not going to be felt in Nigeria alone but across Africa, especially West African. So for us it’s a strategic partnership we are building.
“If we help them to impact lives across the continent, they will equally help in delivering on our mandate to meet the objective of Afreximbank,” Oramah said.
Some other private investors are still visiting the project site to evaluate the facilities with the prospect of investing in the project.
The likely benefits of the Dangote Refinery to Nigeria are diverse.
Dangote said that the project would save the country about $7.5 billion annually in foreign exchange being used to import petroleum products and also generate $5 billion foreign exchange earnings annually.
The plant, according to him, will generate over 100,000 employment opportunities and revive over 11,000 filling stations that had been shut due to shortage of products.
Dangote said that the refinery would crash the price of petrol products in Nigeria as the products would be refined locally and save some costs incurred in importation.
He urged the Federal Government to sincerely pursue the diversification programme, stressing that projects like the refinery were needed to wean Nigeria from heavy reliance on crude oil export.
According to him, the best way to diversify the economy is through agriculture and “our fertiliser plant is in line with that goal”.
“By the time we finish our gas pipeline, it can generate about 12,000 mw and we can export gas to other African countries.
“We would have the capacity to store four billion litres of products and can load 2,680 trucks per day”.
Dangote said the target was that in five years time, half of Nigeria’s crude oil production would be refined and exported rather than exporting crude that were creating jobs elsewhere.
The Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, said the project would create some 235,000 jobs both directly and indirectly.
He said the project would boost the economy of Lagos and entire Nigeria through its multiplier effects.
Mr Chinedu Okoronkwo, the National President of Independent Petroleum Marketers of Nigeria (IPMAN), described Dangote Refinery as a welcome development.
He said that the refinery would ease operations of marketers and help to reduce their costs, stressing that the association had long been calling for total deregulation of the sector.
Okoronkwo said that the new refinery would also boost Industrialisation in the country.
Mr Abiodun Adesanya, the President of Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists, said the refinery would eliminate problems associated with fuel importation, create competition and generate employment opportunities.
He said that the success of Dangote Refinery was an indication that the Nigerian private sector could make commercial success of refineries.
Source: Vanguard
We Must Borrow More To Deliver Infrastructure —Adeosun
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| Adeosun |
Adeosun spoke at a press conference marking the conclusion of the 2017 World Bank/International Monetary Fund Annual Meetings in Washington DC, United States.
She said, “Nigeria’s debt-to-Gross Domestic Product ratio is one of the lowest actually. It is about 19 per cent. Most advanced countries have over 100 per cent. I am not saying we want to move to 100 per cent. But I’m saying we need to tolerate a little bit more debt in the short term to deliver roads, rail, and power.
“That, in itself, will generate economic activities and jobs, which will then generate revenue which will be used to pay back (the loans). It is a strategic decision that as a country we have to make.”
She added, “What I will assure you is that this government is very prudent around debt. We don’t borrow recklessly. We have no intention of bequeathing unserviceable debts to Nigerians. What we are simply trying to do is to ensure that we create enough headroom to invest in the capital projects that the country desperately needs.
“I don’t think any Nigerian will argue with us that we don’t need to invest in power. There is no Nigerian who will argue that we don’t need to do the roads. There is no Nigerian who is honest who will tell us that we don’t have 17 million units housing deficit. So, our vision for Nigeria is not for us to continue hobbling as a poor nation. That is the message I took to the meetings yesterday. We are a middle-income country. By classification, Nigeria, Angola and South Africa are middle-income countries. So, we have to benchmark ourselves against those who wish to join and to do that, we have to fix our infrastructure. We will do it jointly and as efficiently as possible. But the key is revenue.”
However, the minister said that the Ministry of Finance had rejected loan requests by some state governments to ensure the country had good debt sustainability figure.
She also said the Federal Government had a strategic plan to reduce borrowing and this was why the government had embarked on various tax mobilisation initiatives including the Voluntary Assets and Income Declaration, which she noted was gaining traction.
She also noted that plans were underway to get the National Assembly’s approval to refinance some of the naira debts into external borrowing.
On why the country had to borrow, Adeosun said, “If we think back at the problem that we faced, it will be very important to put this in context. Our principal source of revenue plummeted by up to 85 per cent. So, we had two choices: You either reduce public services massively, which would have meant massive job losses or you borrow in the short term until you can begin to generate revenue.
“As the All Progressives Congress (the ruling party), we felt laying off thousands of people was not the way to stimulate the economy. Also, when we came into office, about 27 state governments could not pay salaries. If we had allowed that situation to persist, we would have been in depression now.
“So, we took the view that as a government the best for us to do was to stimulate the demand and spend our way out of trouble. Let the state government pay salaries, make sure the Federal Government can pay salary and invest in capital projects to get people back to work. Once growth is restored, you can now begin to systematically reduce short dependence on borrowing and increase revenue.”
Source: The Punch
Osinbajo Admits Approving N640 Billion Oil Contracts For NNPC
 |
| Prof. Yemi Osinbajo |
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has taken responsibility for granting authorisation to the NNPC for two oil contracts worth N640 billion.
A statement by presidential spokesperson, Laolu Akande, said Mr. Osinbajo approved the contracts in his capacity as acting president in July.
“In response to media inquiries on NNPC joint venture financing, VP Osinbajo, as Ag President approved recommendations after due diligence,” Mr. Akande said.
The admission comes a day after PREMIUM TIMES amplified a curious part of the NNPC response to the Minister of State for Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu’s allegations on Monday.
The NNPC had stated in the response that two presidential approvals were granted to the NNPC for contracts with Shell Nigeria and Chevron at the rate of $1 billion and $780 million respectively.
But when PREMIUM TIMES reached NNPC and the presidency for clarification on Tuesday, they could neither confirm not deny at the time.
Source: Premium Times
Dismiss reports on post-UTME cancellation – Minister
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| Adamu Adamu |
The Minister of
Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, has urged higher institutions and the
general public to disregard social media reports that he has cancelled
Post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination ( Post-UTME ).
A statement by the Federal Ministry of
Education on Wednesday in Abuja directed institutions to carry on with
the conduct of the Post-UTME.
The statement was signed by Mrs Priscilla Ihuoma, Director, Press and Public Relations.
Ihuoma said that the minister also
warned that institutions charging above the stipulated sum of N2000 for
the exercise would be sanctioned.
“The attention of the Minister of
Education has been drawn to a news report in the media claiming that the
minister had issued a directive to universities to cancel the Post-UTME
examinations already scheduled.
“The statement, according to the report, was issued by Mr. Ben Goong, Deputy Director of Press.
“The Ministry would like to assert
emphatically that the report is completely false and without foundation;
Minister therefore urges universities to go ahead with their Post-UTME
arrangements as earlier planned.
“Mr. Goong, who purportedly issued the statement, ceased to be a staff of the Ministry since November, 2016.
“The attention of the minister has also
been drawn to some of the institutions who are charging more than the
stipulated N2, 000.’’
Ihuoma said that the minister viewed it
as an act of insubordination and emphatically redirected that every
institution that violated the directive would be made to face
disciplinary action.
She said that the minister directed such
institutions to refund to the students immediately as Joint Admissions
and Matriculation Board ( JAMB ) had been directed to compile list of
violators for appropriate sanctions.
“The ministry also urges the media to
always endeavour to crosscheck facts with the relevant officials of the
ministry before publication, particularly when such sensitive matters of
national importance are involved.”
Source: The Nation
Source: The Nation
Davido Arested Over Friend’s Death
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| Davido |
Investigations into the death of Tagbo Umeke, a friend of hip-pop artiste, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, took a different dimension yesterday, following his arrest upon discovery that his statement was laced with falsehood.
Davido reportedly told an investigative team at Lion Building division, Lagos Island, that he was not at Shisha Bar, from where the deceased was rushed and dumped at the Lagos Island General Hospital.
In his statement, Davido also said that he had left the bar for DNA Night Club on Victoria Island,
Lagos where he was informed about Umeke’s death.
However, while briefing journalists on the update of the investigation yesterday, the state Commissioner of Police, Imohimi Edgal, said that preliminary investigation showed that the late Umeke was rushed to the hospital on Davido’s instruction. Consequently, Davido was arrested yesterday.
A sober Davido was sighted in a white hood shirt on a pair of pants at the command’s headquarters yesterday in company with his lawyer. He was moved to Lion Building about 5p.m. where he was still being quizzed as at time of writing this report.
Edgal said: “About 9.20a.m. on October 3, 2017, the Chief Security Officer of Lagos Island General Hospital alerted the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Lion Building, that an unidentified male was brought in dead in an ash colour Toyota Camry car with number plate LSD 738 EL. The victim was alleged to have been brought in by two unidentified males.
“In my usual style of fact findings, I called for a meeting with the family of the deceased, Davido’s family, Davido, Caroline Danjuma, including the DPO Lion building and the investigative team. The meeting established that the deceased, Tagbo Umeke, met and had drinks with friends among who was Davido at Shisha Bar.
“The bar attendant confirmed that he (deceased) had 40 shots of Tequila and exhibited clear signs of drunkenness. The CCTV footage which I called for showed that the deceased was quarrelsome and violent in that meeting.”
The commissioner insisted that Davido confirmed that he left Shisha Bar without the deceased to DNA Night Club and that he was only informed of the victim’s death at DNA club.
But against that claim, investigations revealed that Davido’s white Toyota Hilux escort driver, Tunde Usutu, accompanied by Agbeje Olaoye and Idris Busari, both Davido’s friends, took the deceased to the General Hospital, Lagos and abandoned him in his vehicle on the instruction of Davido.
He also hinted that the CCTV footage at the hospital recorded the escort vehicle and all that transpired. The vehicle was recovered from Davido’s residence at 7, Awosika Street, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.
The interim autopsy report stated that the victim died of Asphyxia which literally means suffocation.
“At the end of this fresh round of investigation, I will tell Lagosians our findings,” Edgal added.
Source: NewTelegraph
NNPC Scandal: Osinbajo Gave Approval For N640 Billion Contract
| Prof. Yemi Osinbajo |
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation said on Wednesday that the presidential approvals it received for two oil contracts worth N640 billion were granted by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo during his time as acting president.
The “Acting President Yemi Osinbajo gave the approval,” Ndu Ughamadu, spokesperson for the NNPC, said in a message to PREMIUM TIMES at noon Wednesday.
But for the ensuing 10 hours, Mr. Osinbajo’s office could not confirm or counter the NNPC’s claim despite repeated requests from PREMIUM TIMES.
The NNPC’s statement on Wednesday after that of Tuesday and the presidency’s handling of the controversy surrounding the operations of the state-oil firm further highlight the opaque nature of the running of the corporation.
Mr. Ughamadu’s declaration comes hours after PREMIUM TIMES highlighted a critical aspect of a Monday morning statement by the NNPC which suggested that the state-run oil giant had received presidential approvals for at least two contract awards during the time President Muhammadu Buhari was on medical leave in London.\
The NNPC listed the contracts as part of its response to the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu, who had earlier accused the head of NNPC of abuse of contract regulations and insubordination in a memo to Mr. Buhari.
In the August 30 memo, Mr. Kachikwu said Maikanti Baru awarded up to $25 billion in oil contracts under different guises without recourse to NNPC board or himself as its chairman. The memo sparked nationwide controversy followings its leakage on the Internet October 3.
The NNPC pushed back in a statement Monday, saying Mr. Kachikwu’s complaints were misplaced as the Mr. Baru only needed to get input and approval from President Buhari, who’s also the substantive Minister of Petroleum Resources.
The agency also listed some contracts that received presidential approvals between September 2015 and July 2017.
The statement said NNPC received presidential approvals for two oil contracts on July 10 and July 31 worth $1 billion and $780 million, respectively.
The timeline indicated that the contracts were signed on dates Mr. Buhari was on medical leave in London and Mr. Osinbajo was acting as president in line with the Constitution.
PREMIUM TIMES then contacted the NNPC to clarify whether the approvals were granted by Mr. Buhari while on his sickbed in London, but the agency’s spokesperson declined to clarify, saying “presidential approval is presidential approval.”
When PREMIUM TIMES reminded him of potential legal implications of Mr. Buhari exercising presidential powers even when he had relinquished same in accordance with the constitution, Mr. Ughamadu dug his heels in.
“Presidential approval is presidential approval,” the spokesperson insisted.
President Buhari’s spokespersons, Femi Adesina and Garba Shehu, also declined to comment on their principal’s role in the contract saga when contacted on Tuesday.
But hours after the story was published, Mr. Ughamadu contacted PREMIUM TIMES to say that it was Mr. Osinbajo who gave the presidential approvals for the contracts.
Yet Laolu Akande, spokesperson for Mr. Osinbajo, could not corroborate the NNPC’s assertion for about 10 hours on Wednesday after he was contacted by PREMIUM TIMES.
In his memo to Mr. Buhari, Mr. Kachikwu stated that when Mr. Buhari was unwell in London for several months between May and August, Mr. Baru tried to get direct approval from Acting President Osinbajo for some personnel changes at the NNPC.
But Mr. Osinbajo asked Mr. Baru to go back to Mr. Kachikwu and get his input and approval first before making the changes. Mr. Baru refused to consult Mr. Kachikwu on that.
For weeks, the changes were not made, until Mr. Buhari returned on August 19. By August 29, Mr. Baru announced the changes.
This prompted Mr. Kachikwu’s letter to the president on August 30, complaining that he learnt of the development in the media.
Neither the vice president’s office nor Mr. Baru has denied that claim by Mr. Kachikwu.
Source: PremiumTimes
Soldiers Pose With Terrorist's Dead Body After Repelling Boko Haram Attack.
Troops of 192 Task Force Battalion of 26 Task Force Brigade of Operation
LAFIYA DOLE at about 8:35pm on Tuesday, 10th October 2017 displayed
their fighting prowess to dislodge terrorists onslaught by successfully
repelling Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs) attack at their outpost from
Yamteke axis of Gwoza Local Government, Borno State.
The troops utilising heavy fire power and act of bravery dealt a decisive blow on the BHTs who attempted to infiltrate their outpost with improvised explosive Vehicles and persons borne improvised explosive devices. In the ensuing fire fight, troops inflicted heavy casualty on the terrorists, repelled the attack on their location, neutralised 15 BHTs, captured one Panhard Vehicule Blinde Leger, large caches of various ammunitions, destroyed one Toyota Hilux pick up mounted with Anti Aircraft and one Gun Truck.
Several other BHTs escaped with gunshot wounds. Sadly, one soldier died during the attack and his remains has been evacuated.
The troops remain determined in their task of safeguarding communities and providing a conducive environment for humanitarian agencies to do their work. In this regard, the populace is encouraged to always provide vital information on suspected activities of BHTs to the security agencies in their respective localities.
Brigadier General Sani Kukasheka Usman
Director Army Public Rations
Source: NationalHelm
The troops utilising heavy fire power and act of bravery dealt a decisive blow on the BHTs who attempted to infiltrate their outpost with improvised explosive Vehicles and persons borne improvised explosive devices. In the ensuing fire fight, troops inflicted heavy casualty on the terrorists, repelled the attack on their location, neutralised 15 BHTs, captured one Panhard Vehicule Blinde Leger, large caches of various ammunitions, destroyed one Toyota Hilux pick up mounted with Anti Aircraft and one Gun Truck.
Several other BHTs escaped with gunshot wounds. Sadly, one soldier died during the attack and his remains has been evacuated.
The troops remain determined in their task of safeguarding communities and providing a conducive environment for humanitarian agencies to do their work. In this regard, the populace is encouraged to always provide vital information on suspected activities of BHTs to the security agencies in their respective localities.
Brigadier General Sani Kukasheka Usman
Director Army Public Rations
Source: NationalHelm
NNPC Scandal: Buhari approved N640 billion oil contracts from his sick bed
President Muhammadu Buhari was granting approvals for oil deals to
the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation during the time he was on
his sick bed in London – and when he had relinquished presidential
powers to his Vice President – the head, Maikanti Baru, has indicated.
Mr. Baru said Mr. Buhari approved at least two separate oil contracts on July 10 and July 31 worth $1 billion and $780 million, respectively.
The N640.8 billion contracts (at N360/$ exchange rate) were approved when Mr. Buhari was receiving treatment for undisclosed ailments in London, and when he was not supposed to be exercising presidential powers, having named Vice President Yemi Osinbajo acting president in a formal correspondence to the National Assembly.
Mr. Buhari was flown to London on May 7, barely two months after he returned from his first 2017 medical vacation which saw him spend 50 days in the United Kingdom.
On May 9, a letter Mr. Buhari wrote to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and President of the Senate notifying them that he had relinquished presidential authorities in accordance with the Nigerian Constitution was read on the floor of both chambers.
Despite rumours of his early return, Mr. Buhari ultimately spent 103 days receiving treatment in London, returning on August 19.
On August 21, the president notified the National Assembly of his return in writing, saying he had “resumed” his “functions as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria with effect from Monday, 21st August, 2017.”
THE CONTRACTS
But on Monday, Mr. Baru revealed that Mr. Buhari had been exercising
presidential powers by granting approvals for NNPC joint venture
contracts when he was supposedly on his sickbed and not exercising
presidential powers.
Mr. Baru gave details of the contracts as follows:
(CNL refers to Chevron Nigeria Limited, SPDC to Shell Petroleum Development Company and JV to Joint Venture). The disclosures were made when the NNPC responded – on behalf of Mr. Baru – to the allegations of contract fraud and insubordination raised by Ibe Kachikwu.
Mr. Kachikwu, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, had in an August 30 memo to Mr. Buhari said Mr. Baru unilaterally approved contracts without recourse to him or the NNPC board, amongst other concerns. The memo surfaced on social media on October 3, sending ripples through the country’s polity.
On October 9, the NNPC responded to Mr. Kachikwu’s allegations by publishing the above contract details, which it said was at the instance of Mr. Buhari, who had kept mum since the scandal broke.
But a look at the dates of the three contracts shows that two of them received presidential approval on dates Mr. Buhari was not in the country, July 31 for the second contract with Chevron Nigeria and July 10 for the contract with Shell. Mr. Baru’s name was placed against the contracts as the person who administered the contract in his capacity as the Group Managing Director of the NNPC.
Only the September 1, 2015, contract which Mr. Kachikwu oversaw
during his tenure as the GMD of NNPC received presidential approval on a
date Mr. Buhari was in the country and wielding presidential powers.
A compilation of Mr. Buhari’s travels reveals that he was in the country from early August 2015 when he returned from Cotonou until September 7 when he visited Accra.
But while it is clear that the presidential approval granted when Mr. Kachikwu was the head of NNPC happened when Mr. Buhari was exercising presidential powers; it appeared like Mr. Baru received his approval when Mr. Buhari was in London.
GETTING OSINBAJO’S CONSENT
In his memo to Mr. Buhari, Mr. Kachikwu stated that when Mr. Buhari was unwell in London for several months between May and August, Mr. Baru tried to get direct approval from Acting President Osinbajo for some personnel changes at the NNPC.
But Mr. Osinbajo asked Mr. Baru to go back to Mr. Kachikwu and get
his input and approval first before making the changes. Mr. Baru refused
to consult Mr. Kachikwu on that.
For weeks, the changes were not made, until Mr. Buhari returned on August 19. By August 29, Mr. Baru announced the changes.
This prompted Mr. Kachikwu’s letter to the president on August 30, complaining that he learnt of the development in the media.
Sources at the presidency corroborated Mr. Kachikwu’s claim that Mr. Osinbajo rebuffed Mr. Baru’s attempts to get presidential approval behind Mr. Kachikwu.
Neither the vice president’s office nor Mr. Baru also denied that claim by Mr. Kachikwu.
It is not immediately clear if Mr. Baru also attempted to get approval for the multi-billion dollar contracts from Mr. Osinbajo. But presidency sources said it was unlikely that Mr. Osinbajo, who did not allow Mr. Baru to make personnel changes, would allow the NNPC GMD to circumvent Mr. Kachikwu with such high-profile contracts.
Ndu Ughamadu, spokesperson for the NNPC, would not confirm or deny if Mr. Baru got the approval from Mr. Buhari in London.
“Presidential approval is presidential approval,” Mr. Ughamadu said.
When PREMIUM TIMES reminded him of potential legal implications of Mr. Buhari exercising presidential powers even when he had relinquished same in accordance with the constitution, Mr. Ughamadu dug his heels in.
“Presidential approval is presidential approval,” the spokesperson insisted.
For several hours on Tuesday, presidential spokespersons Femi Adesina and Garba Shehu, did not respond to PREMIUM TIMES’ requests seeking their comments about this and other problematic parts of the NNPC revelations.
Sola Adebawo, Director of Communications at Chevron, did not immediately respond to PREMIUM TIMES’ requests for comments Tuesday evening. His counterpart at Shell Nigeria, Bamidele Odugbesan, simply told PREMIUM TIMES to “direct enquiries to relevant government authorities.”
Yet, the N640.8 billion oil contracts might not be the only one Mr. Baru got Mr. Buhari to approve while he was still unwell in London.
For instance, the NNPC announced on February 2 that
it received 128 bids from local and international firms willing to
participate in its 2017-2018 Direct-Sale–Direct-Purchase crude
programme, which was adopted by the Buhari administration last year to
replace the crude oil swap initiative and the offshore processing
arrangement.
Mr. Buhari was not around in on February 2 when the announcement was made, having been flown to London on January 19 for his first medical trip of the year. He didn’t return to the country until March.
On May 19, when NNPC sources told Daily Trust and a few other media houses that it had finally entered into a $6 billion deal with 10 companies for 2017-2018 edition of DSDP contracts, Mr. Buhari was also not in the country.
The NNPC spokesperson declined comments about DSDP contracts.
LEGAL EXPERT WEIGHS IN
Mr. Kachikwu previously doubled as the Minister of State for Petroleum and GMD of NNPC until he was relieved of the latter post by Mr. Buhari on June 4, 2016, same day Mr. Baru was named as a replacement.
When Mr. Buhari named Mr. Baru the GMD, he made Mr. Kachikwu the chairman of the NNPC board.
The NNPC Act designates the board to oversee the affairs of the state-owned oil giant.
The Act states that the Minister of Petroleum must be the chairman of the NNPC board. Mr. Buhari is the substantive Minister of Petroleum. But he is allowed by the NNPC law to delegate powers, including chairmanship of the board.
However, the law also allows Mr. Buhari to act concurrently as the chairman of NNPC board even while the appointment of the person he delegated powers to is still valid.
Legal analyst, Liborous Oshoma, said the president’s action may be “unprocedural” but might not be entirely illegal.”
“This is similar to what we have witnessed since the president was away yet he was still issuing presidential statements and taking calls from President Donald Trump and other presidents to discuss matters concerning Nigeria.
“All that happened despite the fact that we had an acting president in place and Nigerians raised concerns at the time,” Mr. Oshoma said.
He said Mr. Buhari might not be in a good state of mind when the presidential approvals were procured and their validity could be challenged in court.
“The contracts could be challenged and possibly rendered invalid by the courts because he didn’t have presidential powers at the time he was exercising same,” Mr. Oshoma added. “The acting president ought to have approved those contracts because no one knew what state of mind the president was at the time.”
Source: Premium Times
Mr. Baru said Mr. Buhari approved at least two separate oil contracts on July 10 and July 31 worth $1 billion and $780 million, respectively.
The N640.8 billion contracts (at N360/$ exchange rate) were approved when Mr. Buhari was receiving treatment for undisclosed ailments in London, and when he was not supposed to be exercising presidential powers, having named Vice President Yemi Osinbajo acting president in a formal correspondence to the National Assembly.
Mr. Buhari was flown to London on May 7, barely two months after he returned from his first 2017 medical vacation which saw him spend 50 days in the United Kingdom.
On May 9, a letter Mr. Buhari wrote to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and President of the Senate notifying them that he had relinquished presidential authorities in accordance with the Nigerian Constitution was read on the floor of both chambers.
Despite rumours of his early return, Mr. Buhari ultimately spent 103 days receiving treatment in London, returning on August 19.
On August 21, the president notified the National Assembly of his return in writing, saying he had “resumed” his “functions as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria with effect from Monday, 21st August, 2017.”
THE CONTRACTS
Mr. Baru gave details of the contracts as follows:
(CNL refers to Chevron Nigeria Limited, SPDC to Shell Petroleum Development Company and JV to Joint Venture). The disclosures were made when the NNPC responded – on behalf of Mr. Baru – to the allegations of contract fraud and insubordination raised by Ibe Kachikwu.
Mr. Kachikwu, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, had in an August 30 memo to Mr. Buhari said Mr. Baru unilaterally approved contracts without recourse to him or the NNPC board, amongst other concerns. The memo surfaced on social media on October 3, sending ripples through the country’s polity.
On October 9, the NNPC responded to Mr. Kachikwu’s allegations by publishing the above contract details, which it said was at the instance of Mr. Buhari, who had kept mum since the scandal broke.
But a look at the dates of the three contracts shows that two of them received presidential approval on dates Mr. Buhari was not in the country, July 31 for the second contract with Chevron Nigeria and July 10 for the contract with Shell. Mr. Baru’s name was placed against the contracts as the person who administered the contract in his capacity as the Group Managing Director of the NNPC.
A compilation of Mr. Buhari’s travels reveals that he was in the country from early August 2015 when he returned from Cotonou until September 7 when he visited Accra.
But while it is clear that the presidential approval granted when Mr. Kachikwu was the head of NNPC happened when Mr. Buhari was exercising presidential powers; it appeared like Mr. Baru received his approval when Mr. Buhari was in London.
GETTING OSINBAJO’S CONSENT
In his memo to Mr. Buhari, Mr. Kachikwu stated that when Mr. Buhari was unwell in London for several months between May and August, Mr. Baru tried to get direct approval from Acting President Osinbajo for some personnel changes at the NNPC.
For weeks, the changes were not made, until Mr. Buhari returned on August 19. By August 29, Mr. Baru announced the changes.
This prompted Mr. Kachikwu’s letter to the president on August 30, complaining that he learnt of the development in the media.
Sources at the presidency corroborated Mr. Kachikwu’s claim that Mr. Osinbajo rebuffed Mr. Baru’s attempts to get presidential approval behind Mr. Kachikwu.
Neither the vice president’s office nor Mr. Baru also denied that claim by Mr. Kachikwu.
It is not immediately clear if Mr. Baru also attempted to get approval for the multi-billion dollar contracts from Mr. Osinbajo. But presidency sources said it was unlikely that Mr. Osinbajo, who did not allow Mr. Baru to make personnel changes, would allow the NNPC GMD to circumvent Mr. Kachikwu with such high-profile contracts.
Ndu Ughamadu, spokesperson for the NNPC, would not confirm or deny if Mr. Baru got the approval from Mr. Buhari in London.
“Presidential approval is presidential approval,” Mr. Ughamadu said.
When PREMIUM TIMES reminded him of potential legal implications of Mr. Buhari exercising presidential powers even when he had relinquished same in accordance with the constitution, Mr. Ughamadu dug his heels in.
“Presidential approval is presidential approval,” the spokesperson insisted.
For several hours on Tuesday, presidential spokespersons Femi Adesina and Garba Shehu, did not respond to PREMIUM TIMES’ requests seeking their comments about this and other problematic parts of the NNPC revelations.
Sola Adebawo, Director of Communications at Chevron, did not immediately respond to PREMIUM TIMES’ requests for comments Tuesday evening. His counterpart at Shell Nigeria, Bamidele Odugbesan, simply told PREMIUM TIMES to “direct enquiries to relevant government authorities.”
Yet, the N640.8 billion oil contracts might not be the only one Mr. Baru got Mr. Buhari to approve while he was still unwell in London.
Mr. Buhari was not around in on February 2 when the announcement was made, having been flown to London on January 19 for his first medical trip of the year. He didn’t return to the country until March.
On May 19, when NNPC sources told Daily Trust and a few other media houses that it had finally entered into a $6 billion deal with 10 companies for 2017-2018 edition of DSDP contracts, Mr. Buhari was also not in the country.
The NNPC spokesperson declined comments about DSDP contracts.
LEGAL EXPERT WEIGHS IN
Mr. Kachikwu previously doubled as the Minister of State for Petroleum and GMD of NNPC until he was relieved of the latter post by Mr. Buhari on June 4, 2016, same day Mr. Baru was named as a replacement.
When Mr. Buhari named Mr. Baru the GMD, he made Mr. Kachikwu the chairman of the NNPC board.
The NNPC Act designates the board to oversee the affairs of the state-owned oil giant.
The Act states that the Minister of Petroleum must be the chairman of the NNPC board. Mr. Buhari is the substantive Minister of Petroleum. But he is allowed by the NNPC law to delegate powers, including chairmanship of the board.
However, the law also allows Mr. Buhari to act concurrently as the chairman of NNPC board even while the appointment of the person he delegated powers to is still valid.
Legal analyst, Liborous Oshoma, said the president’s action may be “unprocedural” but might not be entirely illegal.”
“This is similar to what we have witnessed since the president was away yet he was still issuing presidential statements and taking calls from President Donald Trump and other presidents to discuss matters concerning Nigeria.
“All that happened despite the fact that we had an acting president in place and Nigerians raised concerns at the time,” Mr. Oshoma said.
He said Mr. Buhari might not be in a good state of mind when the presidential approvals were procured and their validity could be challenged in court.
“The contracts could be challenged and possibly rendered invalid by the courts because he didn’t have presidential powers at the time he was exercising same,” Mr. Oshoma added. “The acting president ought to have approved those contracts because no one knew what state of mind the president was at the time.”
Source: Premium Times
Billionaire Kidnapper Evans Pleads Guilty In Court
Billionaire kidnapper, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, a.k.a Evans, on
Wednesday, pleaded guilty to kidnapping charges brought against him by
the Lagos State Government.He was charged alongside five of his
accomplices.
Evans pleaded guilty to a two count charge of kidnapping brought against him by the state. He promptly responded that ‘I am guilty’ when the charges were read to him.
Evans was represented by his counsel, Olukoya Ogungbeje. It can be recalled that presiding judge, Justice Abdulaziz Anka had initially fixed Tuesday to deliver judgment on the suit but a lawyer to the Inspector General of Police, David Igbodo filed a counter affidavit before the court.
Citing reasons for the action, Igbodo said; “It will be an injustice for judgment to be delivered without hearing our own side,”
He further added: “The Inspector General of Police devoted time, efforts, intelligence, and strategies to ensure that he was arrested. He beat strategies for the past six years. When he was arrested, it took time for the police to complete investigations and very soon, Nigerians will be made to know what is the next line of action for Evans.”
Evans pleaded guilty to a two count charge of kidnapping brought against him by the state. He promptly responded that ‘I am guilty’ when the charges were read to him.
Evans was represented by his counsel, Olukoya Ogungbeje. It can be recalled that presiding judge, Justice Abdulaziz Anka had initially fixed Tuesday to deliver judgment on the suit but a lawyer to the Inspector General of Police, David Igbodo filed a counter affidavit before the court.
Citing reasons for the action, Igbodo said; “It will be an injustice for judgment to be delivered without hearing our own side,”
He further added: “The Inspector General of Police devoted time, efforts, intelligence, and strategies to ensure that he was arrested. He beat strategies for the past six years. When he was arrested, it took time for the police to complete investigations and very soon, Nigerians will be made to know what is the next line of action for Evans.”
JAMB defends low cut-off marks
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has defended the pegging of 120 as minimum cut-off marks for university admission.
The decision, which was reached at a stakeholders’ policy meeting in Abuja, has generated controversy with many universities rejecting the marks.
JAMB’s Head of Information Dr. Fabian Benjamin, in a statement yesterday in Abuja, said the board would not be deterred and would continue to support policies that would bring Nigeria’s education out of the woods.
He explained that previous cut off marks were never strictly followed by most institutions.
Dr. Benjamin said most universities failed to fill their admission quota in the last 10 years.
The statement reads: “The much trending controversy over the just released cut off marks for 2017 admission exercise by stakeholders at the policy meeting is quite unnecessary.
“All Heads of tertiary institutions were requested to submit their cut off benchmark to the board which will then be used for the admission. And these benchmarks once determined cannot be changed in the middle of admission exercise.
“Again, it is necessary to explain that the 120 mark does not in any way suggest that once you have 120 then admission is sure for you. Institutions will admit from the top to the least mark.
“We are now starting the actually monitoring of adherence to admissions guide lines, cut off marks inclusive. The cut off marks being branded by the public as previous cut off marks were never strictly followed by most institutions.
“The board will equally ensure that it correct all anomalies existing, especially as regards the powers of institutions to make pronouncements on admissions and other related matters affecting the institutions.”
According to him, institutions in the past went behind to admit candidates with less cut-off marks, while also accusing some institutions of admitting candidates without JAMB results.
“Institutions were going behind to admit candidates with far less with others admitting candidates who never sat for JAMB. This act to say the least is very distasteful and damaging to our national data and identity.
“Unfortunately, the public has been kept away from this fact for such a long time and now that we are saying it the way it is and working to address it, the public is criticising us using non existing parameters that were only announced and not followed.
“In years past, admissions were done with worst cut off marks. We are determined and ready to correct all these with the 2017 exercise. The Board has designed a Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) to check back door admission and other unwholesome practices associated with admission.
“We are sure that the system will bring out the good in us as it will also make provision for candidates to track their admission. This empowers them to raise queries if a candidate they have better scores and other prerequisites are admitted which CAPS will not allow anyway. This is the inclusiveness and transparency that education needs,” he added.
Read More at: The Nation
We’re tired of senseless killings, say Boko Haram leaders
Maiduguri—Two factions of the Boko Haram insurgency group are ready for talks with the Federal Government, Abdulkadir Abubakar, a former commander of the group, has claimed.
Abubakar, also known as Abu Muhammad, was the chief intelligence officer of the Boko Haram group and one of its top commanders, until his arrest in June by the military in Buni Yadi in Gujba Local Government area of Yobe State.
Abubakar said at his cell in Maiduguri that Albarnawi and Mamman Nur factions of Boko Haram were willing to dialogue and cooperate with the government to defeat the most visible leader of the group, Abubakar Shekau.
Abubakar
revealed deep divisions and power struggle among the insurgents, claiming the
Albarnawi and Mamman Nur factions were opposed to Shekau’s leadership style and
bloodthirstiness.
According to him, Shekau, whose capture, dead or alive, the
military high command has ordered, has been the major obstacle to peace, since
the insurgency began in 2009.
“Shekau is not willing to surrender due to his
high handedness. Unfortunately, the government and military authorities
accorded priority to dealing with Shekau, who is blood thirsty. “Albarnawi has
indicated interest to dialogue with the government to end insurgency and
provide a lasting solution to the crisis. Albarnawi discusses this with members
of his circle.
And I can assure the government that he would cooperate to
achieve peace. “The two factions are willing to cooperate with Nigerian
Government to defeat Shekau,” he said.
Abubakar’s claim about the readiness of
the factions to dialogue with the Nigerian authorities could not be verified as
he had been incarcerated since June. But he insisted that the groups are
predisposed to a peaceful resolution of the eight year-old crisis.
Abubakar
claimed to have undertaken various espionage missions and provided intelligence
to the insurgents, which enabled them to hit a long list of targets, among
which were the abduction of 275 students at Government Girls Secondary School,
Chibok and the massacre of students at Federal Government College, Buni Yadi.
Over 20 students were murdered at Buni Yadi. He also claimed to have been
involved in other attacks on schools in Maiduguri, Damaturu, Postikum and
Mamudo. The detained Boko Haram commander expressed his willingness to give the
military useful information to crush the insurgents and arrest Shekau.
“I am
cooperating with the military and I am ready to provide information on the
whereabouts of Shekau. Shekau has left his enclave in Sambisa and moved deep
into Mandara Mountain. I know the area where he is hiding and willing to
provide a guide to the military.
“The intensified military offensive has
weakened Shekau’s position and that of the other groups,” he added. Tired of
Shekau’s bloodthirstiness He also blamed Shekau for many attacks on civilians by
the Boko Haram insurgents.
“During the early days of the insurgency we fought
for what we thought was a just cause, to establish a caliphate where human
beings are valued, cherished and respected. “After annexing vast territories,
Shekau began to demonstrate his cruelty and atrocities against humanity.
“In
view of the high level atrocities committed by the group, some of the top
commanders including myself, Albarnawi and Mamman Nur challenged Shekau,
demanding an immediate end to the ugly saga. “Thereafter, Albarnawi and Mamman
Nur parted ways, and formed their groups. Shekau is responsible for suicide
bombings and attack on soft targets in the North-East.
“The Albarnawi and
Mamman Nur groups never attacked schools, religious places of worship, markets,
women and children. Our fight was strictly with security forces. Even the
kidnapped oil workers would not be killed by the group,” he said. According to
him, both Mamman Nur and AlBarnawi opposed the abduction of the Chibok school
girls, women and children.
“Shekau is fond of using the girls and other
abducted women as sex toys, and suicide bombers. He kills on the pretence of
punishing for lies, theft, and rebellion.
Shekau kills without justification.
“Shekau arrogated to himself the powers to accuse, prosecute, convict and
punish in total contradiction to Islamic teachings. Children and women also
starved to death in Sambisa due to Shekau’s cruelty,” he said.
Another
commander surrenders In an interview at a military facility for the repentant
and surrendered Boko Haram members in the North-East, ex-terrorist leader,
Auwal Ismaeela, said he regretted the atrocities he was forced to commit
against humanity. The Commander, Auwal Ismaeela, is currently cooperating with
the Nigerian Military with useful information on locations and hideouts of
other top Commanders of the deadly sect.
He regretted his actions as according
to him, they run counter to several Islamic injunctions. Ismaeela encouraged
other top commanders of the sect to give up and surrender to the military. The
Commander said: “Myself and Abu Hafsat, a Boko Haram commander, led other
squads to abduct the Chibok girls. “We led the operations to invade Gwoza,
Bama, Limankara mobile barrack, Bita, Bosso, Madagali, Chibok, Pulka, Firgi,
and Mubi.
“In Madagali which was my home town, myself, Adam Vitiri, Abu Adam
and Habu Kudama and some high ranking Boko Haram Commanders, led an operation
in 2014 where we killed some students and youths at the Central Secondary
School in Sabon Garin Madagali. “In one of the operations, I abducted my wife
named Maryam who had two kids for me in Sambisa Forest.
“It is unfortunate that
I was brainwashed and misled not only on some abductions but in the killings of
my own people that were innocent. I wholeheartedly regret my actions.
“During a
battle in Konduga, where myself and other Boko Haram commanders led the
operations, I lost my right leg and almost got burnt. Even at that, I did not
stop fighting for the course. Sheikh Shekau ordered that I should be given a
tricycle which I continued to use for various operations before I eventually
surrendered.
” He gave several reasons for his decision to voluntarily surrender
to the Nigerian troops after realizing the misleading sermons, barbaric
indoctrination of the sect leaders and atrocities being committed in some of
the Boko Haram camps.
Tired of senseless killings He said: “I willingly
surrendered to the military because I was tired of the senseless killing and
fight. I realized that our people have resorted to stealing and all sorts of
atrocity contrary to the teaching and practice of Islam.
“Women were being
raped, sometimes publicly. Children died from malnutrition and disease as the
living condition became harsher. As there was no food in the camp, people died
every day because of hunger.”
Read More: Vanguard
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